,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #aa 
,! ,DE/RUCTOR 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALAN ,MOORE 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,D,E,/,R,U,C,T,O,R 

0,MI*AEL8 ,OOH ,GAWD4 ,MI*AEL1 CAN Y\ 'E> ME8 ,PLEASE C\<4 ,PLEASE BREA! 4440 

0 ',OLD ON1 WE'RE NE>LY !RE4 ',OLD ON1 ,DORE540 

,! SI<T ( SULFUR\S ,SAM ,O',DAY LEAN+ \T ?R\< ! W9D[ ( ?AT C>1 ! ONE ?AT HAD ! LADY BE+ HURT 9SIDE IT1 ?AT HAD NE>LY DONE = ,MI*AEL4 ,& ! PUB FULL ( BAD <O/S1 ) ?OSE TWO SCREAM+ WOOD5 PEOPLE & ! MAN :OSE FEATURES FLOAT$ R\ND HIS FACE LIKE CL\DS1 ?AT HAD ALMO/ BE5 WORSE4 ,?OSE ?+S ASIDE1 ?\<1 HE WAS />T+ TO GET US$ TO ALL ?IS HAUNT+ BUS9ESS4 

,HE LIK$ BURR[+ ?R\< TIME1 & BE+ 9 A GANG1 & HAV+ FALL5 SECRETLY 9 LOVE ) ,PHYLLIS EV5 ?\< %E DIDN'T WANT TO BE HIS GIRLFRI5D4 ,BE+ 9 LOVE WAS ! MA9 ?+1 AFT] ALL1 & ,MI*AEL C\LDN'T SEE ?AT IT MU* MATT]$ IF ! O!R P]SON FELT ! SAME OR EV5 KNEW Y\ LOV$ !M4 ,SURELY JU/ ?AT SAD & LOVELY FEEL+ WAS 5\<8 ,?AT WAS ! ?+ ?AT EV]YONE WROTE SONGS & POEMS AB\T1 WASN'T IT8 

,MI*AEL WAS EV5 GR[+ FOND ( ALL ! O!R ,MI*AELS ?AT W\LD SPLIT (F FROM HIM EV]Y TIME HE MOV$4 ,IT WAS A BIT LIKE HAV+ Y\R [N HOME CR[D ( FOOTBALL SUPPORT]S FOLL[+ Y\ EV]Y:]E1 & MADE Y\ FEEL MORE CONFID5T & NOT SO LONELY4 ,EV5 ?\< HE KNEW ?AT ALL HIS D\BLES W]E MADE \T ( NO?+ MORE ?AN <O/-LI<T1 HE WAS GETT+ QUITE ATTA*$ TO !M4 ,HE'D EV5 />T$ GIV+ !M ALL SEP>ATE NAMES1 BUT AS !SE W]E ALL V>IATIONS OR DIM9UTIVES ( ,MI*AEL - ,MIKE1 ,MICK1 ,MICKEY1 ,MIKEY1 ,MICKO & SOME O!RS ?AT W]E JU/ S\NDS HE'D MADE UP - IT HAD BE5 PO9TLESS & HE'D PACK$ IT 94 ,BESIDES1 !Y MELT$ 9TO ?9 AIR AFT] ONLY A FEW SECONDS1 & IF Y\'D MADE FRI5DS ) !M & GIV5 !M A NAME IT ONLY MADE IT ?AT MU* H>D]4 

,ACTUALLY1 !RE W]E A LOT ( ?+S AB\T ! AFT]LIFE ?AT ,MI*AEL LIK$4 ,WALK+ ?R\< WALLS WAS FUN1 & SEE+ 9 ! D>K1 & FLY+ ?R\< ! NI<T WAS ! ?RILL ( A DEA?TIME1 BUT BY F> ! BE/ ?+ AB\T BE+ DEAD WAS EAT+ ,PUCK'S ,HATS4 ,HE HAD BE5 PUT (F AT FIR/ BY ! IDEA ( BIT+ 9TO PRETTY LITTLE FAIRIES1 BUT ONCE HE'D F\ND \T ?AT !Y HAD SWEET & SUCCUL5T :ITE FRUIT 9SIDE RA!R ?AN GIBLETS HE HAD TAK5 TO IT ) SURPRIS+ GU/O4 ,IT WAS ONLY LIKE EAT+ A JELLY BABY AFT] ALL1 HE'D RATIONALIZ$1 EV5 IF1 AS ) JELLY BABIES1 Y\ /ILL FELT A WEE BIT GUILTY :5 Y\ BIT !IR FEET (F4 ,ANYWAY1 GIV5 ! PHANTOM BLOSSOMS' LUSCI\S FLAVOR1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T HE MI<T HAVE WOLF$ D[N ,PUCK'S ,HATS BY ! DOZ5 EV5 IF ! />FI% ?+S HAD KICK$ & WEPT & BEGG$ HIM NOT TO4 ,WELL1 NOT REALLY1 BUT !Y DID TA/E WOND]FUL4 ,HE'D MISS !M :5 HE F9ALLY GOT TAK5 BACK TO LIFE AGA94 

,FROM :AT ,PHYLLIS HAD TOLD HIM ?IS W\LD BE QUITE SOON1 AL?\< APP>5TLY ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG NE$$ TO TAKE HIM = ONE LA/ TRIP TO ! ,UP/AIRS PLACE1 ,MANS\L1 BE=E !Y TOOK HIM HOME4 ,?AT WAS :Y !Y'D JU/ BILL[$ LIKE A ?ICK FOG ( OLD PHOTOGRAPHS ACROSS ! ,MAYORHOLD1 LETT+ ! C>S HURTLE ?R\< !M SO ?AT !Y'D CAU<T BLURRY GLIMPSES ( DA%-LIT 9T]IORS1 M5 MUTT]+ TO !MSELVES & C\PLES BICK]+1 BE=E ! GANG HAD SETTL$ ONCE MORE ON ! SUNK5 PA?S ( ,T[] ,/REET4 ,PE]+ UP T[>DS ! HULK+ BLOCKS ( FLATS1 ! TWO HUGE L&M>KS ) ! ,N,E,W,L,I,F,E LETT]+ ?AT LOOM$ OV] ! UND]PASSES & ! C[]+ C\NCIL H\SES1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T ! MASSIVE TOMB/ONES LOOK$ MORE WORN \T ?AN !Y'D BE5 A %ORT :ILE E>LI]1 BE=E ! GIANT BUILD]S HAD !IR FI<T1 :5 ,MI*AEL HAD RUN (F FROM ALL ! O!RS & GOT LO/4 ,! BURR[+ AB\T ?R\< TIME C\LD GET CONFUS+1 IT WAS TRUE1 BUT BY HIS RECKON+ ! PREVI\S VISIT TO ! T[] BLOCKS W\LD HAVE BE5 NO LONG] ?AN TWELVE MON?S AGO4 ,H[ C\LD SOME:]E />T LOOK+ SO R\<$-UP & OLD )9 A YE>8 ,HIS H\SE ALONG ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 ! ONE ?AT WASN'T !RE UP 9 ?IS DRAFTY C5TURY1 HAD BE5 AB\T A HUNDR$ YE>S OLD :5 HE & HIS FAMILY W]E LIV+ 9 IT1 & HAD /ILL LOOK$ BETT]-KEPT & NIC] ?AN ! TALL FLATS DID4 

,HE /ILL WASN'T 5TIRELY SURE :AT ,PHYLLIS & ! O!RS WANT$ HIM TO SEE UP 9 ,MANS\L OR :Y !Y W]E DET]M9$ HE %\LD SEE IT1 BUT IF IT WAS TO BE HIS LA/ ADV5TURE 9 ! ,UP/AIRS WORLD !N HE WAS GO+ TO MAKE ! MO/ ( IT4 ,HE PRIVATELY SUSPECT$ ?AT ! GANG W]E GO+ TO %[ HIM SOME?+ ?AT WAS EV5 MORE FANTA/IC ?AN ! ?+S HE'D SE5 ALREADY1 AS A SORT ( SPECIAL TREAT OR P>TY TO COMMEMORATE HIS GO+ AWAY4 ,AT ?REE1 HE'D BE5 ?R\< 5\< ,*RI/MASES & BIR?DAYS TO KN[ ?AT :5 SOMEBODY WAS PLANN+ A SURPRISE = Y\1 Y\ HAD TO MAKE \T ?AT Y\ DIDN'T KN[1 OR ELSE Y\'D SPOIL IT4 ,?AT WAS :Y HE WAS JU/ QUIETLY SMIRK+ TO HIMSELF :ILE ,PHYLLIS & ! O!RS SORT$ \T !IR 5TRANCE TO ! BUILD]S' MEET+-PLACE1 ! ,WORKS1 & ALL PRET5D$ TO BE WORRI$ OV] SOME?+4 ,MI*AEL KNEW :AT !Y W]E DO+4 ,!Y W]E TRY+ TO ?R[ HIM (F ! SC5T ( ! AMAZ+ PAGEANT !Y W]E ORGANIZ+ TO M>K HIS DEP>TURE1 BUT HE DIDN'T LET ON ?AT HE KNEW4 ,HE DIDN'T WANT TO HURT !IR FEEL+S4 

,MI*AEL PLAY$ ALONG1 !N1 AS ! GANG ASSEMBL$ ON EA* O!R'S %\LD]S1 A MANEUV] HE'D SE5 !M P]=M BE=E4 ,JOHN /OOD AT ! BOTTOM ( ! T[]1 !N ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 BALANC$ ) HIS WORN-\T BOOTS TO EI!R SIDE ( ,JOHN'S H]OIC FACE4 ,CLAMB]+ UP ! TWO BOYS LIKE A M\NTA9E]1 ,PHYLLIS WAS P]*$ ON TOP ( ,REGGIE1 FUMBL+ 9 ! AIR ABOVE H] AT ! SUMMIT ( ! HUMAN PILE4 ,S9CE ,MI*AEL1 ,BILL & ,M>JORIE W]E LITTLE/ & !RE=E ( NO GREAT ADVANTAGE TO ! HEI<T ( ! >RANGEM5T1 !Y JU/ /OOD & WAT*$ FROM A FEW PACES FUR!R UP ! WALKWAY4 

,MILDLY PUZZL$1 ,MI*AEL ASK$ ,BILL :AT ! GANG'S ?REE TALLE/ <O/S W]E UP TO4 

0,WELL1 IF Y\ REMEMB]1 ! LA/ TIME WE WIZ UP ']E 9 ?IS NEW C5TURY1 WE DUG BACK D[N TO #aiei & W5T FROM !RE UP TO ,MANS\L4 ,WE W5T 9 ?R\< ?AT BO>D$-UP OLD BUILD+ ?AT WIZ ON ONE CORN] ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 :]E ! FIR/ T[N HALL HAD ONCE /OOD1 AGES BACK4 ,! ?+ WIZ1 ?IS TIME WE DON'T WANT TO %[ Y\ ,MANS\L LIKE IT WIZ 9 #a#i#e#i4 ,WE WANT TO %[ Y\ :AT IT LOOKS LIKE N[1 9 #b#f1 & UP ']E !RE'S NO PLACE LEFT /&+ WE CAN 5T] ?R\<4 ,BUT ?AT'S ALL RI<T4 ,:5 WE 'AD ALL ( \R ADV5TURES 9 ! FUTURE1 UP 9 ,SN[ ,T[N & ALL ?AT1 WE LEFT A HOLE UP 9 ! AIR >\ND ']E1 COV]$ OV] ) A BIT ( C>PET LIKE ! TRAPDOOR ( \R D5 ON ! R\< GR\ND NE> ,L[] ',>D+ ,/REET4 ,?AT'S :AT \R ,PHYLL'S LOOK+ = N[4 ,OY1 ,REGGIE6 ',]E'S Y\R *ANCE6 ,LOOK UP '] FROCK60 

,TEET]+ ABOVE !M1 ,PHYLLIS CALL$ D[N ?R\< ! SICKLY SODIUM LI<T4 

0,JU/ Y\ D>E1 ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 AN' ,I'LL PIDDLE ON Y] 'EAD4 ,N[ 'U% UP AN' BEHAVE4 ,I ?9K ,I'VE F\ND IT40 

,MAK+ PULL+ MOTIONS 9 ! D>K ABOVE H] AS IF HAUL+ SOME?+ TO ONE SIDE1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S 9TREPID LEAD] WAS UNCOV]+ A RAGG$ PAT* ( VIOLET-BLUE :I* HUNG !RE 9 AN OV]CA/ SKY ?AT WAS O!RWISE COMPLETELY COLORLESS4 ,HAV+ ?US LOCAT$ ! GANG'S R\TE UP ?R\< ! %\TS & SIR5S ( ! NI<T 9TO ,MANS\L1 ,PHYLLIS NEXT W5T AB\T DIRECT+ !IR ASC5T4 ,%E TOLD ! CREW'S ?REE SMALLE/ MEMB]S TO CLIMB UP ! LADD] =M$ BY !IR COMPANIONS1 ) ,BILL GO+ FIR/1 !N ,MI*AEL1 & !N ,M>JORIE4 ,:5 ?IS WAS DONE !Y HELP$ H] UP & ?R\< ! SKY-HOLE SO ?AT %E 9 TURN C\LD HELP UP ,JOHN & ,REGGIE4 ,AFT] !Y'D REPLAC$ ! WAT]LOGG$ & FIL?Y C>PET-REMNANT ?AT HAD BE5 US$ TO CONCEAL ! AP]TURE1 ! <O/-GANG /OOD BESIDE IT = A MOM5T1 TAK+ /OCK ( !IR OM9\S NEW SURR\ND+S4 ,MI*AEL WAS A BIT PUT \T1 AS !SE DID NOT SUGGE/ ! SPECIAL TREAT HE'D BE5 EXPECT+4 ,PROBABLY1 HE ?\<T1 ! O!RS W]E JU/ DRAGG+ ?+S \T SO IT W\LD BE MORE ( A SURPRISE4 

,! SPACE ?AT ! GANG /OOD 91 CAV]N\S & 9DIGO1 WAS NONE!LESS /ILL RECOGNIZABLE AS ! SAME <O/-/RUCTURE !Y'D CLIMB$ ?R\< JU/ BE=E ! ANGLE-FI<T1 AL?\< 9 A MU* WORSE /ATE ( REPAIR4 ,AT LEA/ ONE ( ! PHANTOM FLOORS HAD FALL5 9 COMPLETELY1 DUE TO :AT SEEM$ TO BE WAT]-DAMAGE FROM ABOVE4 ,SODD5 & BROK5 BEAMS /UCK \T FROM HALFWAY UP ONE TALL & BADLY DI/RESS$ WALL LIKE SNAPP$ RIBS & ! BLUI% LI<T WAS EV]Y:]E1 SCABB+ TO PURPLE :]E ! %AD[S POOL$4 

,MI*AEL REMEMB]$ ?AT 9 #aiei ?IS BUILD+ HAD BE5 ALL 9 BLACK & :ITE1 ) NO APP>5T HUE AT ALL UNTIL Y\ W5T UP TO ,MANS\L BY ?AT %ORT FLI<T ( USELESS1 N>R[ /AIRS ON ! TOP FLOOR4 ,IT LOOK$ AS IF ! WORLD ,UP/AIRS WAS LEAK+ COLOR1 AMONG O!R ?+S4 ,MI*AEL C\LDN'T REMEMB] ALL ?IS WAT] BE+ H]E BE=E1 /REAM+ LIKE SILV] D[N ! D]ELICT & T[]+ WALLS1 OR GA!R+ 9 HOLL[S LIKE C>PET$ ROCK POOLS D[N AMID ! RUBBLE ( ! FLOOR4 ,IT ALSO SEEM$ AS IF ! QUALITY ( S\ND F\ND 9 ,MANS\L HAD P]COLAT$ D[N 9TO ! USUALLY-MUFFL$ PHANTOM REALM ALONG ) ALL ! WETNESS & ! MOODY COLOR$ LI<T4 ,EA* PLIP1 DRIP1 SPLA% & GLASSY T9KL+ REV]B]AT$ E]ILY AB\T ! E*O+1 DAMP-SC5T$ RU91 :I* RESEMBL$ NO?+ MORE ?AN SOME 5ORM\S W>EH\SE AFT] AN 9SURANCE FIRE4 

,DAMP-SC5T$8 ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ ?AT ALONG ) S\ND & COLOR FILT]+ D[N FROM ABOVE1 HIS S5SE ( SMELL HAD />T$ TO IMPROVE TO SOME?+ MORE LIKE ! RI*1 OV]:ELM+ FACULTY ?AT IT HAD BE5 ,UP/AIRS1 :]E !RE W]E 5TIRE /ORIES 9 ! WAY ?AT SOME?+ SMELL$4 ,HE WAS BEG9N+1 = EXAMPLE1 TO DETECT ! /9K ( ,PHYLLIS'S FUR WRAP1 ALONG ) ! P]FUMES ( MOLD1 DECAY & - :AT WAS IT1 ?AT O!R ?+8 ,HE SNIFF$ ! AIR EXP]IM5TALLY1 CONFIRM+ HIS SUSPICIONS4 ,IT WAS SMOKE1 ! FA9TE/ :IFF ( IT1 & ,MI*AEL C\LDN'T TELL :]E IT WAS COM+ FROM4 

,HE /OOD ) HIS FIVE PHANTOM FRI5DS1 :O ALL SEEM$ G5U9ELY HU%$ BY ! ?ICK ATMOSPH]E ( DESOLATION ?AT HAD FALL5 ON !M - ALONG ) ! COBALT LI<T & ! CASCADES ( WAT] - FROM ABOVE4 ,:ILE HE SUSPECT$ !Y W]E ONLY PUTT+ ON AN ACT TO CONCEAL ! SURPRISE !Y HAD 9 /ORE = HIM1 ,MI*AEL WAS FEEL+ A BIT PUT \T BY HIS GO+-AWAY P>TY SO F> & S9C]ELY HOP$ ?AT IT W\LD PICK UP LAT]4 ,HE GAZ$ UP 9TO ! DRIPP+ BLUE GLOOM OV]HEAD & LI/5$ TO ! R++ LEAKY-TAP NOISES1 ! GU% & SPATT]1 BURBL+ LIQUID TRILLS ?AT ALMO/ HAD ! S\ND ( :ISP]$ CONV]SATION4 

0,OOH1 ,GAWD4 ,OOH1 ,GAWD1 ,D\G1 ,I ?9K 'E'S GONE4 ,:ATEV] %ALL WE DO80 

0,JU/ Y\ 'ANG ON1 ,DORE54 ',ANG ON1 GEL4 ,IT'S JU/ UP OV] ! ,M\NTS4 ,WE'LL BE !RE 9 ANO!R M9UTE 4440 

,/ILL ) NO ONE REALLY SAY+ V]Y MU*1 ,MI*AEL HAD JO9$ HIS <O/LY PLAYMATES AS !Y'D />T$ !IR ASC5T ( ! P>TLY-COLLAPS$ BUILD+'S 9T]IOR4 ,?IS PROV$ A LOT MORE DIFFICULT ?AN :5 !Y'D COME ?IS WAY BE=E4 ,= ONE ?+1 ! DILAPIDAT$ /AIRCASE !Y'D US$ !N LOOK$ TO BE LONG S9CE GONE1 REQUIR+ ! SIX *ILDR5 TO CLIMB UP ! CRUMBL+ WALLS LIKE SPID]S1 BUT ) HALF AS MANY LEGS4 ,BRAVE ,JOHN W5T FIR/1 PO9T+ \T FOOT & H&HOLDS1 9D5TATIONS 9 ! SODD5 PLA/]1 = ! B5EFIT ( ! FIVE SPECTRAL Y\NG/]S :O W]E FOLL[+ HIM4 

,= ANO!R ?+1 BESIDES !RE BE+ VE/IGES ( ,MANS\L'S S\ND & SMELL & COLOR D[N H]E 9 ! NORMALLY S5SE-/IFL+ <O/-SEAM1 TRACES ( ! UPP] WORLD'S 9CREAS$ FEEL+S ( WEI<T & GRAVITY W]E ALSO EVID5T4 ,IF !Y'D HAVE FALL5 FROM ! %E] FACE ( ! WALL1 !Y'D PROBABLY /ILL HAVE DESC5D$ SL[LY 5\< NOT TO S]I\SLY HURT !MSELVES1 BUT FLY+ ?R\< ! AIR OR B\NC+ UP LIKE LUN> BEA* BALLS OBVI\SLY WASN'T GO+ TO WORK4 ,ALL ( !M FELT TOO HEAVY & TOO SOLID1 MEAN+ ?AT !Y HAD NO O!R *OICE BUT TO CLIMB SL[LY & LABORI\SLY UP ! HI< WALL 9 A CAUTI\S HUMAN *A94 ,!Y /ILL HAD A FEW AFT]-PICTURES PEEL+ FROM !M1 BUT AS !Y W5T HI<] !SE GREW FLIMSI] & FA9T]1 & !N W9K$ \T ( EXI/5CE ALTOGE!R4 

,P>T ( ! TOP /ORY HAD NOT YET COLLAPS$ COMPLETELY1 ) SOME >EAS ( FLOORBO>DS & A FEW SUPPORT+ BEAMS REMA9+1 ?\< !SE SAGG$ & LOOK$ PREC>I\S4 ,AFT] :AT SEEM$ TO ,MI*AEL LIKE AT LEA/ AN H\R ( CLIMB+1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG AT LA/ REA*$ !SE CREAK+ ISL&S ( COMP>ATIVE SECURITY4 ,! TEMPOR>ILY-DEAD TODDL] WRIGGL$ ON HIS TUMMY UP OV] ! SOGGY PLANKS ?AT W]E ! PLAT=M'S $GE1 ) ,PHYLLIS PU%+ FROM BEH9D & BIG ,JOHN PULL+ FROM 9 FRONT4 ,IT FELT NICE1 BE+ ABLE TO /& UP - IF ONLY ON ! /URDI]1 BEAM-RE9=C$ P>TS ( ! FLOOR - & HAVE A %ORT RE/ AFT] ALL ?AT SCRAMBL+4 

,:ILE !Y ALL RECOV]$1 ,PHYLLIS G5]\SLY PASS$ >\ND SOME ( ! DW>F V>IETY ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS ?AT !Y'D F\ND AT ! ASYLUMS1 :]E ! LITTLE FAIRIES W]E ONLY A HALF-9* TALL4 ,MI*AEL DISCOV]$ ?AT :5 EAT5 9 CLOS] PROXIMITY TO ,MANS\L1 :]E Y\R S5SES ALL WOKE UP1 !SE TA/$ & SMELL$ EV5 BETT] ?AN !Y HAD D[N 9 ! <O/-SEAM4 ,SWEET JUICE GLI/5+ ON HIS *91 HE'D SAT AGA9/ A DOORFRAME ?AT WAS ONLY HALF !RE ) HIS SLIPP]-CLAD FEET HANG+ PA/ ! ROTT$ FLOOR+'S $GES1 KICK+ BACK & =? ABOVE ! SAPPHIRE-T9T$ ABYSS4 

,HE ?\<T AB\T :]E !Y'D BE51 ! ?+S !Y'D SE5 & HE>D4 ,!Y'D GONE = TEA & CAKES AT ,MR4 ,DODDRIDGE'S1 & !N !Y'D WALK$ ALONG ?AT FUNNY BRIDGE-?+ \T TO ! ASYLUMS4 ,! ASYLUMS W]E :]E !Y KEPT PEOPLE :O'D GONE CORN]Y1 & BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE ?AT W]E ALL MIX$-UP 9 !IR HEADS !N ! ASYLUMS HAD GOT ALL CONFUS$ & MUDDL$ UP TOGE!R TOO4 ,IT HAD BE5 A PECULI> PLACE1 ) ALL ! FIREWORK-SPRAYS ( COLOR$ LI<T & !N ! O!R ,BILL & ,REGGIE FROM ! FUTURE TURN+ UP & /EAL+ MO/ ( ! MAD-APPLES4 ,:AT HAD /RUCK HIM AS ! ODDE/ ?+1 ?\<1 WAS ! WAY ?AT ,PHYLLIS1 ,JOHN & ,M>JORIE HAD ACT$ :5 !Y'D HAPP5$ ON ?AT PAIR ( LIV+ LADIES :O W]E SITT+ ON ! B5*4 ,!SE HAD BO? LOOK$ COMPLETELY NORMAL & W]E JU/ HAV+ A TALK1 ! WAY ?AT GR[N-UPS DID SOMETIMES4 ,MI*AEL HAD NOT BE5 REALLY LI/5+ TO !M1 BUT HE ?\<T ! TALL] & MORE FRAGILE-LOOK+ ONE HAD SAID ?AT H] DOG US$ TO GET 9 B$ ) H]4 ,?IS S\ND$ LIKE ! SORT ( ?+ ?AT A PET DOG W\LD MORE ?AN LIKELY DO1 & ON REFLECTION IT WAS PROBABLY ! REASON :Y HIS MOM HAD NEV] LET HIM HAVE ONE1 BUT HE C\LDN'T SEE :Y ?AT HAD MADE ,PHYLLIS & ,JOHN LOOK SO UPSET4 ,P]HAPS !Y HAD BO? COME FROM TIDI] & MORE FA/IDI\S HOMES ?AN HIS4 

,IT HAD BE5 AFT] !Y'D RETURN$ FROM ! ASYLUMS1 ?\<1 :5 !Y'D COME UP 9TO ?IS FUNNY-FEEL+ C5TURY :I* HE'D DISLIK$ SO MU* ! LA/ TIME !Y W]E H]E1 ?AT ?+S HAD />T$ TO TURN A BIT HORRIBLE4 ,:5 !Y'D JUMP$ FROM ! ,ULTRADUCT D[N TO ,*ALK ,LANE 9 NO?+-SIX OR :]EV] !Y W]E1 IT HAD JU/ BE5 BEG9N+ TO GET D>K1 :I* ,MI*AEL ALWAYS F\ND A BIT UNSETTL+4 ,:5 HE'D /ILL BE5 ALIVE1 IF HE'D HAD DREAMS :]E IT WAS NI<TTIME 9 ! DREAM1 !Y'D ALWAYS TURN \T TO BE NI<TM>ES4 ,= A LONG :ILE HE'D ?\<T ?AT ?IS WAS ! DEF9ITION ( A NI<TM>E3 !Y W]E DREAMS :]E ! /RANGE ?+S ?AT HAPP5$ ALL TOOK PLACE BY NI<T4 ,SO :5 ! D>KNESS HAD BEGUN TO SETTLE :ILE ! <O/-GANG MUCK$ AB\T D[N 9 ?AT BIG LAGOON-PLACE1 HE'D BE5 FEEL+ A BIT N]V\S FROM ! />T4 

,! TRIP HE'D TAK5 ) ,BILL1 ,M>JORIE & ,REGGIE - :I* HE HADN'T REALLY UND]/OOD ! PURPOSE ( - HAD BE5 A BIT ( FUN1 OR AT LEA/ ?OSE P>TS ?AT 9VOLV$ PLAY+ AT TRA9S OR FLY+ ?R\< ! NI<T SKY HAD BE54 ,MI*AEL HADN'T LIK$ ?AT DRAFTY Y>D ) ALL ! METAL B>RELS 9 IT MU*1 ?\<4 ,MIS]ABLE & UN9VIT+ AS ! 5CLOSURE HAD LOOK$1 !RE'D BE5 SOME?+ AB\T IT ?AT ! *ILD HAD F\ND DI/URB+LY FAMILI>1 EV5 ?\< HE'D NEV] VISIT$ ! PLACE BE=E4 ,P]HAPS HE'D SE5 IT DUR+ ONE ( ! 9NUM]ABLE RUN-?R\<S ( HIS LIFE :I* ,PHYLLIS & ! RE/ ASSUR$ HIM HE'D EXP]I5C$ ALREADY1 EV5 IF HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY REMEMB] ANY ( !M4 ,P]HAPS ! DRAB Y>D WAS SOME:]E ?AT HE W\LD ONE DAY BECOME FAMILI> )1 AL?\< HE F\ND ?AT ?IS ?\<T FILL$ HIM ) A HE>TA*E ?AT WAS 9EXPLICABLE4 

,IT HAD BE5 AFT] !Y'D RETURN$ ?R\< ! NI<T SKY TO ! LAGOON1 H[EV]1 ?AT EV5TS HAD TAK5 A SEV]E TURN = ! WORSE4 ,HE'D CRI$ A LITTLE BIT :5 ,PHYLLIS & ! RE/ HAD LET HIM GO & HAVE A LOOK AT ! B>E GRASS PAT* ON ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 ) NO?+ LEFT TO %[ HIM & HIS FAMILY HAD EV] LIV$ !RE1 BUT ! CRY+ HADN'T BE5 A BAD ?+4 ,IT HAD JU/ BE5 ,MI*AEL />T+ TO ACCEPT ! WAY ?+S W]E1 ! WAY ?AT 9 ! MORTAL WORLD PEOPLE & PLACES W\LD JU/ FLA% BY & BE DONE ) 9 AN 9/ANT4 ,?AT WAS H[ LIFE WAS1 BUT 9 ! 5D NONE ( ?AT MATT]$ BECAUSE DEA? WAS DIFF]5T4 ,DEA? & TIME W]5'T REALLY HAPP5+1 :I* MEANT ?AT EV]YONE & EV]Y:]E W]E !RE =EV] 9 ,MANS\L4 ,HIS H\SE WAS UP !RE SOME:]E1 ) ITS FAD$ R$ FRONT DOOR1 ITS *9A SWAN 9 ! FRONT W9D[ & ITS L>GELY-UNUS$ BOOT-SCRAPE SET 9TO ! WALL BESIDE ! BOTTOM DOOR/EP4 ,HE'D BE5 COM=T$ BY ?AT & SO HAD WIP$ HIS EYES & SET (F ) ! RE/ ( ! GANG = ! ,MAYORHOLD1 :I* WAS :5 ! REALLY BAD ?+S HAD COMM5C$4 

,! FIR/ & PROBABLY ! WOR/ HAD BE5 ! ?+ ?AT HAPP5$ 9 ?AT LITTLE WALL$-9 G>AGE PLACE JU/ (F ! L[] 5D ( ,BA? ,/REET4 ,EV]YONE HAD CR[D$ R\ND ! P>K$ C> AS IF TO /OP ,MI*AEL SEE+ :AT WAS GO+ ON 9SIDE1 BUT HE HAD GLIMPS$ 5\< TO KN[ ?AT A BAD MAN HAD GOT A LADY P9N$ D[N UND]NEA? HIM & WAS HURT+ H]1 PUN*+ H] LIKE HE WAS A BOX]4 ,!N :5 ,BILL1 :O ,MI*AEL HAD BEGUN TO LIKE1 HAD L$ HIM AWAY FROM ! VEHICLE & TO ONE SIDE1 ?AT'S :5 !Y'D SE5 ! O!R P]SON SITT+ 9 ! DRIV]'S SEAT4 ,?AT'S :5 HE'D SE5 SIDE-W9D+ ,SAM ,O',DAY & BE5 SO FRI<T5$ ?AT HIS HE>T HAD ALMO/ />T$ BEAT+4 

,HE HAD KN[N ?AT HE WAS B\ND TO MEET ! DEVIL AT LEA/ ONCE MORE1 ) ! 9EVITABILITY ?AT A BAD DREAM HAS1 OR A FRI<T5+ PROGRAM ON ! TELLY4 ,HE JU/ HADN'T BE5 EXPECT+ IT TO BE RI<T !RE & !N1 NOR HAD HE ?\<T ! DEMON W\LD REMEMB] ALL ?AT BUS9ESS AB\T ,MI*AEL HAV+ SOMEONE KILL$4 ,HE WAS AT LEA/ RELIEV$ ?AT HE HAD MANAG$ TO AVOID DO+ A DREADFUL ?+ LIKE ?AT4 ,?AT /UCK-UP ,SAM ,O',DAY HAD ?\<T HE WAS SO CLEV]1 BUT HE'D /ILL NOT MANAG$ TO TURN ,MI*AEL TO AN 9/RUM5T ( MURD]1 = :I* ,MI*AEL FELT HE C\LD CONGRATULATE HIMSELF4 

,( C\RSE1 ONCE !Y'D ?W>T$ ! FI5D BY ! SURPRIS+LY SUCCESSFUL & SIMPLY-ACCOMPLI%$ TRICK ( RUNN+ AWAY SCREAM+1 !Y'D GONE TO ?AT DREADFUL PUB ?AT ,MI*AEL DIDN'T EV5 WANT TO ?9K AB\T4 ,UPON ! FEW MORTAL OCCASIONS :5 HE'D BE5 TAK5 9TO A TAV]N'S Y>D OR G>D5 BY HIS MOM & DAD1 HE'D F\ND PUBS A BIT GRUFF & GR[N-UP & 9TIMIDAT+ = HIS TA/ES1 BUT ?AT WAS NO?+ :5 COMP>$ ) H[ HE'D FELT UP AT ! ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S4 ,! MAN ) A CRAWL+ FACE1 & ?OSE POOR WOOD5 ?+S ?AT HAD APP>5TLY JU/ SURFAC$ FROM ! B>ROOM FLOOR1 HE WAS QUITE C]TA9 ?AT !SE IMAGES W\LD BE ) HIM = ! REMA9D] ( HIS LIFE1 NO MATT] :AT EV]YONE SAID AB\T H[ ALL ( ?IS W\LD BE =GOTT5 ONCE !Y'D GOT HIM BACK 9SIDE HIS BODY & HE'D SOMEH[ BE5 REANIMAT$4 ,MI*AEL WOND]$ H[ ALL ?AT WAS GO+1 !N REMEMB]$ HE WAS N[ 9 NO?+-SIX1 ! *OK+ 9CID5T OV] & DONE ) NE>LY FIFTY YE>S BE=E1 & WOND]$ 9/EAD H[ ALL ?AT HAD GONE4 

0,MI*AEL8 ,COME ON1 ,MI*AEL4 ,BREA!4 ,BREA! = Y] MOM40 

,:5 EV]YONE HAD F9I%$ ! EM]G5CY SUPPLY ( MIDGET ,PUCK'S ,HATS1 ,PHYLLIS L$ ! WAY ?R\< :AT REMA9$ ( ! DET]IORAT+ BUILD+'S UPP] FLOOR1 ACROSS ! SAFE/-LOOK+ PLANKS & BEAMS TO :AT UPON !IR PREVI\S VISIT HAD BE5 A SMALL (FICE AT ONE 5D BUT WAS N[ AN ANONYM\S & OP5 SPACE1 SQUEL*Y ) WAT]4 ,UP AGA9/ ONE ( ! TWO SURVIV+ WALLS1 ) A FEW ( ITS N>R[ RUNGS GONE S9CE ! LA/ TIME ?AT !Y'D SE5 IT1 WAS ! ,JACOB ,FLI<T :I* L$ UP TO A CL\DY-LOOK+ CROOK-DOOR 9 ! CEIL+4 ,?IS1 ?\<T ,MI*AEL1 W\LD BE :5 EV]YONE ALL JUMP$ \T & YELL$ 'SURPRISE' & %[$ HIM ALL ! ICE-CREAM & ! JELLIES & ! PRES5TS AT HIS GO+-AWAY P>TY4 

,BUT !RE WASN'T ANY SPECIAL TREAT AWAIT+ ,MI*AEL 9 ,MANS\L4 ,!RE WASN'T ANY P>TY4 ,!RE WAS H>DLY A ,MANS\L4 

,! CROOK-DOOR HAD LOOK$ CL\DY BECAUSE ! :OLE GR\ND-FLOOR >EA ( ,! ,WORKS WAS PR[L$ BY HUGE & ROLL+ BILL[S ( :ITE SMOKE4 ,?IS WAS DUE TO ! FACT ?AT ONE VA/ WALL ( ! CA!DRAL-SIZ$ HALL WAS ON FIRE1 ) BUILD]S & SOME L>G] & MORE 9DET]M9ATE =MS VISIBLE ?R\< ! ?ICK HAZE1 ALL WORK+ H>D TO PUT IT \T4 ,>RANG+ !MSELVES 9TO *A9S !Y PASS$ GIGANTIC GOBLETS H& TO H&1 !RE SEEM+LY BE+ FEW BUCKETS TO BE F\ND AB\T ,MANS\L4 ,! SPILLAGE1 B\NC+ ,*9ESE IVORY-PUZZLE DROPLETS ( ! MORE-?AN-#c,D WAT] ,MI*AEL HAD SE5 E>LI]1 HAD SPREAD ACROSS ! MASSIVE FLAG/ONES ( ! FLOOR & WAS PRESUMABLY RESPONSIBLE = ALL ! FLOOD+ & DESPOLIATION D[N BEL[4 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG CLIMB$ FROM ! DANK & DOLEFUL BLUE EXPANSES ( ! PHANTOM BUILD+ UP 9TO ! EV5 WORSE PLACE ?AT WAS UP ABOVE IT4 ,/&+ HUDDL$ R\ND ! CROOK-DOOR SET 9TO ! FLAG/ONE FLOOR+ ( ! ,WORKS1 ! T\< CREW W]E QUITE CLE>LY FRI<T5$ AS !Y PE]$ 9TO ! DRIFTS ( SMOKE ?AT SCUDD$ EV]Y:]E AB\T !M4 ,) A S9K+ FEEL+1 ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ ?AT !IR ANXI\S GLANCES HADN'T BE5 AN ACT TO COV] UP SOME C>EFULLY-PLANN$ CELEBRATION4 ,!Y HAD BE5 EXACTLY :AT !Y LOOK$ LIKE1 T]RIFI$ EXPRESSIONS ON ! FACES ( SMALL *ILDR5 :O W]E GO+ TO WAT* ,HEAV5 BURN+4 

,PHYLLIS WAS HOLD+ UP H] WOOL5 C>DIGAN - :I* WAS N[ ICE-CREAM P9K AGA9 - TO COV] BO? H] M\? & NOSE AGA9/ ! ACRID FUMES4 ,AT LEA/1 ?\<T ,MI*AEL ) HIS BLUE EYES WAT]+1 Y\ C\LDN'T REALLY SMELL H] RABBIT NECKLACE :5 ?IS SMOKE WAS EV]Y:]E4 ,%E GAVE H] ORD]S BETWE5 C\<S4 

0,ALL RI<T1 LET'S MAKE A L9E ) EV]YBODY 'ANG+ ON ! COAT OR JUMP] O' ! KID 9 FRONT1 SO AS WE WUN'T GET LOR/4 ,WE'LL TRY & GET ACROSS ! FLOOR TO :]E !M /AIRS WIZ LA/ TIME WE WIZ ']E1 SO WE CAN GET AYT ON ! BALCONY4 ,COME ON1 Y\ LOT4 ,?IS WUN'T GET ANY BETT] IF WE /& >AYND FROM N[ UNTIL ! C[S COME 'OME40 

,OB$I5TLY1 ,MI*AEL GA!R$ ! COLL> ( HIS DRESS+ G[N TOGE!R ) ONE H&1 HOLD+ IT UP OV] HIS NOSE & M\?1 :ILE ) ! O!R H& HE GRABB$ AT ! RE> WAI/B& ( ,JOHN'S TR\S]S AS ! OLD] BOY /OOD 9 ! L9E AHEAD ( HIM4 ,BEH9D HIM1 ,MI*AEL C\LD FEEL ,PHYLLIS TAKE A HOLD UPON ! T>TAN BELT ?AT HE HAD KNOTT$ R\ND HIS MIDRIFF4 ,9 ?IS FA%ION1 S+LE FILE AS IF !Y W]E EXPLOR]S 9 A VAPOR-JUNGLE1 !Y SET (F ACROSS A FLOOR !Y KNEW WAS VA/ DESPITE ! FACT ?AT AT ?AT MOM5T EV]Y?+ MORE ?AN A Y>D OR SO AWAY FROM !M WAS HIDD5 BY ! CREEP+ SMOKE4 

,! GANG HAD GONE ONLY A LITTLE WAY BE=E ,MI*AEL REMEMB]$ ! DEMONIC DECORATIONS1 ALL ! 9TRICATE & 9T]LOCK+ DEVIL-PATT]NS ?AT HAD WRI!D ) A MALIGN VITALITY ON ! SIX DOZ5 MASSIVE FLAGS ?AT =M$ ! >EA'S FLOOR4 ,HE LOOK$ D[N 9 AL>M AT ! HUGE PAV+ SLAB ?AT HIS PLAID SLIPP]S W]E !N SCUFFL+ OV]1 HALF-EXPECT+ TO SEE SOME GROTESQUE DESIGN ( JIGSAW-FITT$ SCORPIONS & JELLYFI%1 BUT :AT HE ACTUALLY SAW WAS ONLY CRACK$ & BROK5 /ONEWORK1 :I* WAS SOMEH[ WORSE4 ,B5EA? A SLID+ VEIL ( GRAY SMOKE & A SCATT]+ ( ! DISC>D$ LEAFLET-GUIDES ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD READ ON HIS PREVI\S VISIT1 !RE WAS ONLY ! SMA%$ PAV+1 FISSUR$ 9TO MON/R\S PIECES AS IF BROK5 & PU%$ UP BY TREE ROOTS OR SOME O!R GREAT =CE FROM BEL[4 ,! COLORFUL & FI5DI%LY 9VOLV$ DEPICTIONS ( ! SEV5TY-TWO DEVILS W]E COMPLETELY ABS5T4 ,!Y W]5'T %ATT]$ ) ! /ONES ?AT !Y'D BE5 PA9T$ ON1 NOR W]E !Y FAD$ OR CONCEAL$ BEH9D GRAFFITI4 ,!Y W]E SIMPLY GONE1 AS IF ?OSE <A/LY & RESPL5D5T PRES5CES HAD SEEP$ \T ( !IR PORTRAITS ONCE ! GLAZE WAS FRACTUR$4 ,/ILL HOLD+ HIS DRESS+ G[N OV] HIS NOSE LIKE A C[BOY B&ANNA1 ,MI*AEL GLANC$ R\ND N]V\SLY 9TO ! *URN+ BILL[S4 ,IF ! DEVILS W]5'T TRAPP$ 9 !IR PICTURES !N :]E W]E !Y8 

,! SIX *ILDR51 HEAD+ = ! HUGE WORKPLACE'S S\? WALL 9 !IR /UMBL+ *A9-GANG L9E1 HAD NOT GONE F> ACROSS ! SMOKE-WREA!D FACTORY FLOOR BE=E ! TODDL] HAD AN ANSW] TO HIS QUE/ION3 TRUNDL+ FROM ! BITT] FUG AHEAD ( !M WAS AN 5ORM\S WAGON1 AN IMM5SE FLAT C>T ?AT HAD EI<T MI<TY WAGON-:EELS ON EI!R SIDE4 ,! VEHICLE WAS SL[LY BE+ T[$ ) NUM]\S /\T1 T>RY ROPES T[>DS ! BUILD+'S BLAZ+ NOR!RN 5D BY :AT SEEM$ TO BE AT LEA/ ?IRTY ( ! L[]-RANK+ BUILD]S 9 ! PIGEON-COLOR$ ROBES1 ) MORE ( !M GR\P$ TO ! RE> ( ! COLOSSAL TROLLEY1 PU%+ FROM BEH9D :ILE !IR COMPANIONS PULL$ & HEAV$ 9 FRONT4 

,!SE RANK-&-FILE CELE/IAL WORK]S ALL LOOK$ MU* ! WORSE = WE> COMP>$ ) ! BRISK1 BU/L+ EMPLOYES ?AT !Y'D BE5 :5 LA/ ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG CAME TO ,MANS\L1 9 #aiei TO WAT* ! ANGLE-FI<T4 ,!IR H&S W]E SCRAT*$ & CALLUS$ & SOME ( !M WORE NO S&ALS4 ,AS !Y HAUL$ UPON !IR CREAK+ ROPES1 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE !IR DELICATELY-T9T$ ROBES W]E TORN & SCOR*$1 !IR MELAN*OLY FACES SMUDG$ ) SOOT & GREASE4 ,!Y KEPT !IR D[NCA/ EYES UPON ! SPL9T]$ FLAG/ONES AT !IR FEET1 P]HAPS TO AVOID DWELL+ ON ! M\NTA9\S IMPOSSIBILITY ?AT !Y W]E TRY+ TO MOVE1 ! BEHEMO? ?AT SQUATT$ UNCONC]N$ UPON !IR ROLL+ PLAT=M4 

,AT FIR/ ,MI*AEL TOOK ?IS = A /ATUE OR AN IDOL ( SOME K9D1 AN 9CALCULABLY L>GE TOAD C>V$ FROM :AT SEEM$ TO BE SOLID DIAMOND1 BIGG] ?AN A *UR* OR A CA!DRAL4 ,!N HE NOTIC$ ?AT ITS DAZZL+ SIDES W]E GO+ 9 & \T & REALIZ$ IT WAS BREA?+4 ,AS HE UND]/OOD ?AT HE WAS 9 ! PRES5CE ( A LIV+ CREATURE1 ALMO/ C]TA9LY ONE ( ! MISS+ DEVILS FROM ! FLAG/ONES1 ,MI*AEL LOOK$ MORE CLOSELY4 

,ITS BLUNT HEAD1 AS FLAT & WIDE AS IF IT HAD BE5 SQUA%$1 WAS TILT$ BACK IMP]I\SLY UPON SEV]AL BULG+ *9S1 GREAT ROLLS ( DIAMOND FAT LIKE LAY]S 9 A JEWEL-&-ZEPPEL9 S&WI*4 ,SEV5 DISPROPORTIONATELY T9Y PIGGY EYES1 >RANG$ TO =M A R+1 W]E SET 9TO ITS PRECI\S BR[4 ,!SE W\LD EA* BL9K 9DIFF]5TLY AFT] UNBE>ABLY PROTRACT$ 9T]VALS1 9 NO DI/+UI%ABLE SEQU5CE1 !N RETURN TO />+ L(TILY 9TO ! :ITE OR BLUE-BR[N CL\DS ?AT HID ! UPP] REA*ES ( ! ,WORKS FROM VIEW4 ,IT SEEM$ TO REG>D BE+ DRAGG$ UPON A TROLLEY AS A T]RIBLE 9DIGNITY1 & ,MI*AEL WOND]$ IF FELT A%AM$ AB\T ITS SIZE & WEI<T4 

,:ATEV] IT WAS REALLY MADE FROM - BE IT DIAMOND OR1 = ALL ?AT ,MI*AEL KNEW1 CUT GLASS - IT WAS TRANSLUC5T1 & ,MI*AEL GOT ! IMPRESSION ?AT ! MON/] WAS COMPLETELY HOLL[1 LIKE AN ,EA/]-EGG4 ,:AT'S MORE1 :5 HE PE]$ ?R\< ITS SWOLL5 SIDES HE ?\<T ?AT HE C\LD SEE A SORT ( BLURRY SLO%+ MOTION1 AS ?\< ! LEVIA?AN W]E HALF FILL$-UP ) WAT]4 ,FROM ! WAY IT PURS$ ITS WIDE SLA% ( A M\? ! CREATURE LOOK$ UNCOM=TABLE1 & ,MI*AEL ?\<T ?AT HAV+ ALL ?AT LIQUID 9 ITS BELLY1 TURN+ IT 9TO A :OPP+ CRY/AL JUG1 MI<T POSSIBLY EXPLA9 ?IS4 

,! GREAT WAGON RUMBL$ SL[LY =W>D ON ITS WAY TO ! NOR? WALL ( ! FIRE-FOGG$ 5CLOSURE1 :ILE ! L9E ( PHANTOM *ILDR5 PASS$ IT AS !Y CREPT & C\<$ !IR WAY BY1 HEAD+ 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION4 ,MI*AEL WI%$ HE C\LD ASK ,PHYLLIS :Y !SE AWFUL ?+S W]E HAPP5+1 BUT EV]YBODY HAD !IR COATS OR JUMP]S COV]+ !IR M\?S & NOSES1 & SO NOBODY C\LD TALK4 

,ONLY :5 ! C>T & ITS TREM5D\S BURD5 HAD ALMO/ COMPLETELY PASS$ ! <O/-GANG BY DID ONE AMONG ! SCORES ( ANGLES PU%+ FROM ! RE> NOTICE ! SCRUFFY ?RONG ( DEAD KIDS & RAISE AN AL>M4 

0,:>B MICT YEL D\NGS80 

,?IS MEANT ,:AT >E Y\ DO+ H]E AMONG !SE RU9S & !SE SMOK+ RELICS :5 ?\ >T BUT *ILDR51 & A FUR!R P>AGRAPH OR SO 9 ! SAME VE91 TRANSLAT+ R\<LY TO 0,OY6 ,Y\ LOT6 ,CLE> (F60 

,EV]YONE FROZE1 NOT SURE :AT !Y %\LD DO1 ) EV5 ,PHYLLIS SEEM+ DISCONC]T$4 ,IT WAS CLE>LY ONE ?+ TO BE G5]ALLY DISOB$I5T & *EEKY :5 IT CAME TO <O/S OR DEVILS1 BUT IF BUILD]S TOLD SOMEONE TO DO SOME?+1 EV5 ! L[]-RANK+ BUILD]S1 !N !RE WASN'T ANY >GUM5T4 ,EV]YONE DID :AT !Y W]E TOLD4 ,!Y JU/ DID4 ,LUCKILY1 IT WAS AT ?IS PO9T ?AT A SECOND DOVE-ROB$ LABOR] DETA*$ HIMSELF FROM ! MA9 TEAM ?AT /RA9$ & PU%$ AT ! HUGE WAGON'S RE>1 TO 9T]V5E UPON ! GANG'S BEHALF4 ,HE CALL$ TO HIS MORE BELLICOSE CONF$]ATE 9 A CONVIVIAL & REASSUR+ TONE4 

0,:ORNYB DELM /IV CAGYUF60 

,WORRY NOT1 MY BRO!R1 = ?IS IS ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG ?AT ,I DID TELL Y\ ( SOME SEV]AL C5TURIES AGO 444 & SO ON4 ,IT WAS ,MR4 ,AZIEL1 ! BUILD] :O HAD TAK5 !M TO VISIT ,MR4 ,DODDRIDGE FOLL[+ ! ,GREAT ,FIRE ( ,NOR?AMPTON BACK D[N 9 ! SIXTE5-HUNDR$S4 ,! FIR/ ANGLE1 :O HAD %\T$ AT ! *ILDR51 N[ TURN$ R\ND TO GAPE AT ,AZIEL 9 DISBELIEF4 

0,!DIG CAWN FOLM SPURBYJK80 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG WE READ ( 9 ?AT SPL5DID BOOK8 ,MY BRO!R1 :Y DID Y\ NOT SAY8 ,IS ?AT ,DR[N$ ,M>JORIE ) ALL ?OSE /9K+ RABBITS R\ND H] NECK8 ,:5 ALL ! MEAN+S ( ! O!R BUILD]'S BREA?LESS \TBUR/ HAD SUBSID$1 ,MR4 ,AZIEL %OOK HIS HEAD4 ,HIS LONG1 LUGUBRI\S FACE WAS /ILL RECOGNIZABLE B5EA? ITS MASK ( SWEAT & BLACK DU/1 %AK+ HIS HEAD AS HE REPLI$ TO HIS COMPANION4 

0,NOP?AYL JIS W]MUYC40 

,NO1 ?AT IS ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]4 ,N[1 ,I MU/ ACCOMPANY !M ON !IR J\RNEY4 ,IT IS WRITT54 ,) ?AT ,MR4 ,AZIEL TURN$ FROM HIS COLLEAGUE & BEGAN TO WALK ACROSS ! RU9$ FLAG/ONES1 HEAD+ = ! *ILDR5 ) A FOND SMILE %[+ ?R\< ! 9ADV]T5T BLACK+4 

0,H]M LOYD F+ SAWTUCK80 

,HELLO1 MY Y\NG FRI5DS4 ,%ALL ,I TAKE Y\ TO SEE ! GREAT 5D ( ALL WOND]S8 

,ALL ! O!R *ILDR5 NODD$1 S9CE CONS5T+ V]BALLY W\LD HAVE MEANT TAK+ D[N ! T5TS ( CLO?+ ?AT !Y HELD ACROSS !IR M\?S4 ,?\< ,MI*AEL WASN'T C]TA9 :AT HE WAS AGREE+ TO1 HE NODD$ ALONG ) ! RE/ ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 SO AS NOT TO BE ! ODD ONE \T4 

,AZIEL L$ !M FROM ! FRONT 5D ( !IR %AMBL+1 :EEZ+ QUEUE1 ) TALL ,JOHN HOLD+ TI<T ONTO A RE> TUCK ( ! >TISAN'S S+$ GRE5-&-GRAY-&-VIOLET G[N4 ,AL?\< IT /ILL TOOK AGES TO REA* ! S\? WALL :]E ALL ! COMET-SPANGL$ /EPS W]E1 !Y MADE BETT] TIME ?AN IF !Y HADN'T HAD ! BUILD] GUID+ !M4 ,:AT'S MORE1 !Y W]E LESS C[$ BY ALL ! T[]+ & UNNATURAL %APES ?AT /ALK$ OR SLI!R$ PA/ !M 9 ! M]CIFULLY OBSCUR+ CL\DS1 GO+ ! O!R WAY4 ,AT LA/ ! ANGLE1 :O WAS SEEM+LY IMP]VI\S TO SMOKE1 ANN\NC$ ?AT !Y W]E AT ! BOTTOM ( ! S\? WALL'S /AIRCASE4 ,ITS OAK BANI/]S & RAIL W]E MO/LY GONE OR ELSE R$UC$ TO *>R$ /UMPS1 BUT ! NI<T-BLUE /AIRS ) !IR EMB$D$ CON/ELLATIONS W]E 9TACT4 ,/ILL CLUT*+ AT EA* O!R'S CLO?+1 = !Y W]E NOT YET ABOVE ! LEVEL ( ! ROIL+ FUMES1 ! RUFFIANS CAUTI\SLY ASC5D$ 9 ! WAKE ( ,MR4 ,AZIEL4 

,:5 !Y W]E R\<LY HALFWAY UP ! FIR/ ( ! LONG ZIGZAG FLI<TS ( /AIRS 444 FIFTY OR SIXTY FEET OV] ! WORKPLACE FLOOR BY ,MI*AEL'S E/IMATION 444 !Y BROKE ?R\< ! SURFACE ( ! CURDL+ VAPOR-OCEAN 9TO SOME?+ ?AT WAS MORE LIKE AIR4 ,MI*AEL1 H[EV]1 ?\<T HE MU/ HAVE ACCID5TALLY 9HAL$ SOME SMOKE S9CE HE WAS /ILL EXP]I5C+ DIFFICULTY 9 CAT*+ HIS BREA?4 

0,GET AYT ! WAY6 ,GET AYT ! WAY1 Y] SILLY BUGG]6 ,CAN'T Y] SEE WE'RE 9 AN 'URRY80 

0,OOH1 ,D\G1 'E'S DEAD4 ,AYR ,MI*AEL'S DEAD4 ,:AT >E WE GUNNA DO8 ,:AT %ALL ,I TELL ,TOM :5 'E'S 'OME FROM WORK8 ,OOH1 ,GOD4 ,OOOHH1 ,GOD 4440 

,ONCE !Y W]E CLE> ( ! ASPHYXIAT+ FOG BY SEV]AL L>GE & MIDNI<T-SPECKL$ /EPS1 ! BUILD] LET ! *ILDR5 PAUSE TO PULL D[N !IR MAKE%IFT B&ANNAS & TAKE 9 ! SI<TS FROM !IR NEW ELEVATION4 

,! :OLE BOTTOM LEVEL ( ! VA/ CELE/IAL W>EH\SE WAS FILL$ BY A CUBE ( SMOKE SOME SIXTY FEET DEEP1 & ! *ILDR5'S VIEW WAS AS IF !Y W]E UP ABOVE ! CL\DS1 LIKE PEOPLE 9 AN AIRPLANE4 ,! EI<T-BY-N9E >RANGEM5T ( CRACK$ FLAG/ONES ?AT HAD PREVI\SLY KEPT ! DEVILS CAPTIVE WAS 9VISIBLE B5EA? ! %IFT+1 SUFFOCAT+ BLANKET1 AS W]E ALL ! MANY BUILD]S OCCUPI$ 9 BATTL+ ! CONFLAGRATION ?REAT5+ ! NOR!RN WALL4 ,! ONLY ?+S ?AT ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE POK+ UP ABOVE ! LEVEL ( ! SMOG W]E :AT HE QUICKLY REALIZ$ MU/ BE ! SMA%$ FLOOR-TILES' =M] OCCUPANTS4 

,SOME?+ ?AT LOOK$ EI!R LIKE A DRAGONFLY OR A GLASS SKYSCRAP] WAS PICK+ ITS WAY C>EFULLY ACROSS ! VI/A UPON TWELVE OR SO IMPOSSIBLY ?9 CRY/AL LEGS4 ,CONSID]ABLY SMALL] BUT /ILL BIG 5\< TO LOOM \T FROM ! FUMES WAS A TREM5D\S SPID]-?+ ?AT HAD ?REE HEADS4 ,! NE>E/ ONE LOOK$ LIKE A CAT'S HEAD1 IF A CAT'S HEAD W]E ! SAME SIZE AS A :ALE1 :ILE ! ONE 9 ! MIDDLE WAS ?AT ( A TITT]+ LONG-HAIR$ MAN ) LIP/ICK & EYE MAKE-UP ON1 :O WORE A GOLD5 CR[N4 ,! SPID]'S ?IRD HEAD WAS TOO F> AWAY FROM ,MI*AEL TO SEE PROP]LY1 BUT HE ?\<T IT MI<T BE A FI% OR FROG4 ,COLOSSAL HORRORS PAC$ ?IS WAY & ?AT ?R\< ! GRAY FIELDS ( MURK ?AT /RET*$ BEL[ HIS VANTAGE PO9T AS HE /OOD !RE UPON ! GALAXY-/A9$ /AIRS ) !IR BLACK /UMPS ( BANI/]4 ,TO ,MI*AEL'S PUZZLEM5T1 !Y SEEM$ TO BE ASSI/+ ) ! FI<T AGA9/ ! BLAZE4 

,AT ! 5ORM\S *AMB]'S F>1 NOR? 5D1 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE ! DIAMOND TOAD UPON ITS TROLLEY1 OR AT LEA/ C\LD SEE ITS HEAD & %\LD]S :]E !Y ROSE ABOVE ! SMOKE4 ,ITS PRICELESS *EEKS W]E PUFF$ \T LIKE BALLOONS1 & ) A VEHEM5T EXPRESSION 9 ITS R+ ( PIGGY EYES IT WAS EXPELL+ A GREAT WAT]SP\T AGA9/ ! BURN+ WALL1 SO ?AT HOT G\TS ( /EAM SURG$ UP TO JO9 ) ! SURR\ND+ SWIRL4 ,MI*AEL1 QUITE FRANKLY1 W\LD HAVE LIK$ TO LOOK AT IT = LONG]1 BUT ?AT WAS :5 ,MR4 ,AZIEL SUGGE/$ ?AT !Y %\LD RESUME !IR CLIMB4 

,!Y C>RI$ ON UP ! />-PIMPL$ /AIRS4 ,! HI<-SET W9D[S ( ! ,WORKS ABOVE !M1 :I* HAD LOOK$ \T ONTO CLE> BLUE SKY ! LA/ TIME ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 UP ?IS WAY1 N[ GL[]$ A SULL5 R$4 ,AL>M$1 HE LOOK$ UP AT ! GREAT SEAL ( ! ,WORKS1 ! RAIS$ DISC ) ! BALANCE & ! SCROLL ON1 JU/ TO MAKE SURE IT WAS /ILL ALL RI<T1 BUT IT SEEM$ MORE OR LESS UNT\*$4 ,HE WASN'T C]TA9 :Y HE F\ND ! CRUDE DESIGN'S SURVIVAL QUITE SO REASSUR+1 UNLESS IT IMPLI$ ?AT EV5 9 ALL ?IS CONFUSION & DI/RESS1 ,JU/ICE WAS /ILL ABOVE ! /REET4 

,SOME:AT CONSOL$1 ,MI*AEL CONT9U$ HIS ASC5T4 ,NONE ( ! GANG W]E CLUT*+ AT EA* O!R'S JUMP]S N[ ?AT !Y C\LD SEE :]E !Y W]E GO+1 & ,MI*AEL MADE SURE ?AT HE KEPT WELL CLE> ( ! /AIRWAY'S \TSIDE $GE1 :]E !RE W]E ONLY BLACK5$ /UMPS ( BALU/RADE BETWE5 HIM & ! LONG DROP TO ! BROK5 SLABS BEL[4 ,AT LA/ !Y REA*$ ! BUILD+'S L[E/ L&+1 :]E ! HEAVY SW+-DOOR ?AT L$ \T ONTO ! BALCONY WAS SITUAT$4 ,! ?ICK PORTAL'S /A9$ GLASS1 HEAVILY DISCOLOR$1 HAD BE5 BROK5 9 ONE L[] CORN]4 ,! BRASS PLATE WAS N[ COMPLETELY JET ) SOOT1 SAVE = ! BUTT]-COLOR$ SMUDGES LEFT BY ,MR4 ,AZIEL'S F+]S PU%+ ON IT1 OP5+ ! DOOR ONTO ! BALCONY4 ,A WALL ( AIR AS ?ICK & W>M AS GRAVY RU%$ 9 FROM \TSIDE & DA%$ ITSELF OV] ! BUILD] & ! KIDS1 MAK+ !M BL9K & GASP4 ,/ILL FOLL[+ ! M\RNFUL LESS] ANGLE1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG FIL$ \T ?R\< ! 5TRANCE TO ! ONCE-MAJE/IC WALKWAYS ( ,MANS\L4 

,JOHN CROSS$ HIMSELF1 :ILE ,PHYLLIS GROAN$ AS ?\< TORM5T$4 ,REGGIE ,B[L] SCREW$ HIS HAT D[N TI<T] & SPAT SPECTRAL PHLEGM OV] ! REMNANTS ( ! PIT*-DAUB$ H&RAIL4 ,AN 9F]NAL TORTURE-BRAZI] LI<T CRAWL$ ON ! *ILDR5'S FACES1 ON ! SPLIT BO>DS AT !IR FEET & SIDL$ EV]Y:]E 9 ! PREVAIL+ D>KNESS4 ,HIS EXPRESSION N[ MORE MELAN*OLY ?AN WAS CU/OM>Y1 ,MR4 ,AZIEL G5TLY %EPH]D$ ! <O/-KIDS \T ONTO ! 5DLESS L&+1 /E]+ !M T[>DS A SECTION ( ! WOOD5 RAIL+ ?AT WAS /ILL 9TACT SO ?AT !Y C\LD SEE D[N 9TO ! GREAT WELL ( ! A/RAL ,MAYORHOLD1 ! >5A :]E9 ! GIGANTIC ,MA/] ,BUILD]S HAD !IR FI<T 9 #a#i#e#i4 ,= HIS P>T1 ,MI*AEL DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK1 & 9/EAD FOCUS$ HIS ATT5TION ON ! UPP] BALCONIES SURR\ND+ ! UNFOLD$ =M] T[N SQU>E1 WELL ABOVE :ATEV] WAS PROVID+ ! HELL-T9T$ RADIANCE ?AT WAS UND]-LI<T+ EV]Y?+4 

,IT LOOK$ LIKE !RE WAS MORE ACTIVITY UP ON ! ELEVAT$ BO>DWALKS ?AN !RE HAD BE5 ON ! SMOLD]+ GR\ND FLOOR ( ! ,WORKS4 ,ANGLES CONF]R$ ) DEVILS AS !Y OV]LOOK$ ! ,MAYORHOLD4 ,DEMON WORK-GANGS RASP$ COMM&S TO ONE ANO!R 9 TOE-CURL+ VOICES ?AT W]E ?OSE ( C>RION BIRDS OR 9SECTS1 GREATLY AMPLIFI$4 ,!RE W]E NO <O/LY ?RONGS ( SPECTATORS FILL+ ! BALCONIES AS !RE HAD BE5 ON ,MI*AEL'S PREVI\S VISIT H]E1 H[EV]1 & ! FEW LONE1 W&]+ PHANTOMS HE C\LD MAKE \T ALL LOOK$ FRI<TFUL OR A BIT MAD4 

,HE C\LD SEE A *UBBY MAN :O WORE OLD FA%ION$ CLO!S & HAD A R\ND1 P9K BABY FACE1 /&+ UPON ! WALKWAY OPPOSITE & S++ AN OLD HYMN 9 A SWEET T5OR VOICE ABOVE ! *ITT]+ & BUZZ+ RACKET ( ! LABOR+ DEVILS4 ,9 ! 5DLESSLY UNRAVEL+ AC\/ICS ( ,MANS\L ! S+]'S EV]Y WORD WAS AUDIBLE DESPITE ! DI/ANCE3 0,YEA1 ?\< ,I WALK ?R\< DEA?'S D>K VALE1 YET %ALL ,I FE> NO-OH ILL 4440 ,! MAN'S EXPRESSION1 />+ PETRIFI$ 9TO ! HELL-GL[1 CONTRADICT$ ! SONG'S LYRICS PO9T$LY4 ,HE LOOK$ AS IF HE FE>$ ILL V]Y MU*4 ,ELSE:]E UPON ! L&+S1 ,MI*AEL SAW A SMALL GAGGLE ( ELD]LY M5 & WOM5 :O CLUNG DESP]ATELY TO ONE ANO!R AS !Y SCREAM$ & WEPT & PLEAD$ = DELIV]ANCE4 ,JUDG+ FROM ! FACT ?AT ALL ( !M W]E NAK$ OR CLAD ONLY 9 /A9$ UND]WE>1 ,MI*AEL CONCLUD$ ?AT !Y MU/ BE PEOPLE HAV+ A P>TICUL>LY NA/Y DREAM4 

,! MO/ UPSETT+ /ROLL] ON ! BALCONIES1 H[EV]1 WAS A SOLIT>Y FIGURE ON ! SAME /RET* ( ! WALKWAY AS ! *ILDR51 SOMEONE ,MI*AEL RECOGNIZ$4 ,COM+ T[>DS !M FROM ! SCOR*$ & P>TLY-RU9$ L&+'S F> 5D WAS ! RUMBL+ BALL ( FROZ5 FIRE ?AT WALK$ UPON TWO LEGS1 ! BL[+-UP MAN ?AT ! *ILDR5 HAD GLIMPS$ 9 ?IS V]Y SPOT ! LA/ TIME !Y'D BE5 UP H]E1 NE>LY FIFTY YE>S BE=E4 ,HE LOOK$ ! SAME AS HE HAD !N1 AMID ! SAME WASP-SW>M ( LI<T & %RAPNEL1 WALK+ ) ! SAME /IFF-LEGG$ & DELIB]ATE GAIT1 AS IF HE'D DONE HIS BUS9ESS 9 HIS TR\S]S4 ,! SL[$ & PROTRACT$ S\ND ( ! EXPLOSION ?AT HAD KILL$ HIM1 /RET*+ & REV]B]AT+ AS IT ROLL$ ET]NALLY >\ND HIS BLISSFULLY DIS9TEGRAT+ =M1 WAS AUDIBLE EV5 ACROSS ! DI/ANCE SEP>AT+ ,MI*AEL & ! WALK+ BOMB-BUR/1 A L[ MODULAT$ DRONE ?AT GR[L$ AGGRESSIVELY D[N AT ! L[] ?RE%OLD ( ! SMALL BOY'S HE>+4 ,TALL ,JOHN1 /&+ NEXT TO ,MI*AEL1 HAD APP>5TLY SE5 ! CONT9U\SLY DETONAT+ <O/ AS WELL4 

0,OH4 ,IT'S ?AT SILLY SOD BL[+ HIMSELF TO BITS UP H]E AS WELL1 !N4 ,IF HE'S WALK+ BACK ALONG ! L+] ( ,MANS\L1 !N ,I EXPECT IT MU/ BE SOMETIME >\ND N[ ?AT HE SET \T FROM4 ,I CAN'T SAY AS ,I'M SURPRIS$1 NOT FROM ! LOOK ( ?+S R\ND !SE P>TS4 ,IF ,MANS\L ITSELF WIZ ON FIRE UP 9 ?IS NEW C5TURY1 !N WIZ IT ANY WOND] Y\'VE GOT LIV+ PEOPLE DO+ /UPID BLOODY ?+S LIKE ?AT80 ,JOHN NODD$ TO ! MAN 9 QUE/ION1 :O WAS /ILL SOME DI/ANCE (F & ONLY V]Y SL[LY GETT+ CLOS]4 

0,FROM :AT ,BILL SAID1 !Y'RE PREP>$ TO GET BL[N UP BECAUSE !Y ?9K ?AT !Y'LL 5D UP 9 ,HEAV54 ,I SUPPOSE ?AT'S :AT ,I ?\<T AS WELL1 & ?AT'S :AT ALL ! ,J]RIES ?\<T1 & ALL ! ,JAPS4 ,WE'RE ALL HALF-%>P1 ! LOT ( US4 ,AS IF !RE C\LD BE ANY MORE TO US ?AN :AT WE MAKE ( \RSELVES & \R LIVES :ILE WE'RE /ILL LIV+ !M4 ,! PEOPLE ?AT WE >E :5 WE'RE ALIVE1 ?AT'S :O WE >E =EV]1 NIPP]4 ,LIKE ?AT DIBBY ,H]B]T ALL 9 PIECES D[N ! WALKWAY !RE40 

,JOHN PLAC$ ONE H& UPON ! TODDL]'S %\LD]1 DRAW+ BACK HIS F+]S :5 HE REALIZ$ !Y W]E T\*+ ! DISCOLOR$ PAT*ES :]E SLOBB]+ ,SAM ,O',DAY HAD DRIBBL$4 ,QUIETLY1 ! TALL] BOY /E]$ ,MI*AEL OV] TO ! FRAGM5T ( SURVIV+ RAIL+ :]E ! SCOR*$ & SORRY-LOOK+ BUILD] /OOD ) !IR F\R FRI5DS4 

0,COME ON4 ,FROM :AT ,PHYLL TOLD ME :ILE WE WAIT$ = Y\ & ,BILL !RE \TSIDE ! ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S1 Y\'VE BE5 BR\<T UP H]E SO WE CAN %[ Y\ ! ,DE/RUCTOR4 ,WE MI<T JU/ AS WELL GET IT ALL OV] )1 !N WE CAN TAKE Y\ HOME40 

,MI*AEL FELT SUDD5LY AFRAID & %I$ BACK FROM ! L&+'S $GE1 PROTE/+ FRETFULLY TO ! DET]M9$-LOOK+ OLD] BOY4 

0,BUT OBSC5IC BE F\R1 9 ,BIR? ,/REET4 ,IT WIZ LIKE A S9N+-:EEL1 ALL SMOK]Y & DR$GEFUL & *OO-*OO+ HEAV5LY?+ TO GRITS60 

,JOHN'S RESOLV$ EXPRESSION S(T5$4 ,HE C\LD TELL H[ FRI<T5$ ,MI*AEL WAS BY ! DEGREE TO :I* ! 9FANT'S LANGUAGE SKILLS HAD BE5 D]AIL$ BY JU/ A SOLIT>Y M5TION ( ! WORD 0,DE/RUCTOR04 ,FIRMLY & YET SYMPA!TICALLY1 HE %OOK HIS HEAD4 

0,NO1 NIPP]4 ,Y\'VE NOT SE5 IT FROM UP H]E BE=E1 & ?AT MAKES ALL ! DIFF]5CE1 Y\ CAN TRU/ ME4 ,Y\ SEE1 D[N 9 ,BA? ,/REET 9 ! LIV+ WORLD1 ALL PEOPLE SEE WIZ ! EFFECTS ( ! ,DE/RUCTOR1 ALL !1 WELL1 ! PRO/ITUTES4 ,! DR9K & DRUGS & ALL ! FI<T+1 LONG AS ANYBODY CAN REMEMB] BUT MU* WORSE1 ! WAY IT'S GOT 9 !SE TIMES4 ,!N1 IF Y\'RE ) ! R\< SLEEP]S 9 ! <O/-SEAM1 Y\ CAN SEE ! ?+ ITSELF1 OR AT LEA/ Y\ CAN SEE A BIT ( IT3 ! HUB1 ! BIG D>K :IRLPOOL ?+ ?AT Y\ SAW D[N 9 ,BA? ,/REET4 ,FROM UP H]E 9 ,MANS\L1 ?\<1 Y\ SEE A BIGG] PICTURE4 ,Y\ CAN SEE ! :OLE ( IT40 

,BY N[ ! PAIR W]E CLOS] TO !IR FRI5DS & ,MR4 ,AZIEL4 ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T] REA*$ \T & TOOK ,MI*AEL BY ! H&4 

0,LOOK1 IT'S IMPORTANT ?AT Y] KN[ ABAYT ?IS4 ,?IS'LL %[ Y] :Y ?+S >E ! WAY !Y >E4 ,SEE1 Y] REMEMB] '[ WE TOLD Y] ALL ABAYT ! MONK 'OO BR\<T ! CROSS ']E FROM ,J]USALEM1 TO M>K ! C5T] O' ! L&8 ,WELL1 ?IS PLACE WIZ ! C5T] 9 ALL SORTS O' WAYS4 ,IT'S 9 ! MIDDLE O' ! C\NTRY1 TRUE 5\<1 & IT'S ! MIDDLE ( ! C\NTRY'S SPIRIT1 TOO4 ,IT'S :]E ALL O' ! BIG RELIGI\S *ANGES & UPHEAVALS >E KICK$ (F1 & :]E ! W>S >E F9I%$4 ,BUT ! MO/ IMPORTANT WAY ?AT WE'RE BANG 9 ! MIDDLE WIZ ?AT WE'RE ! C5T] ( ! 444 :AT'S IT CALL$1 ,JOHN8 ,! WAY ?+S >E ALL FITT$ TOGE!R 9 ONE PIECE80 

0,! /RUCTURE40 

0,/RUCTURE1 ?AT'S ! WORD4 ,! ,BOR\<S IS ! MIDDLE BIT ( ,5GL&'S /RUCTURE4 ,IT'S ! KNOT :AT 'OLDS ! CLO? TOGE!R1 IF Y] LIKE4 ,& BACK :5 EV]YBODY SORT ( UND]/OOD ?AT1 UND]/OOD IT 9 !IR 'E>TS1 !N EV5 :5 ! TIMES WIZ BAD !Y'D /ILL GOT ?AT BIG /RUCTURE1 ?AT CLO?1 LIKE A SAFETY-NET !Y C\LD FALL BACK ON4 ,BUT !RE COME A TIME - ,I RECKON IT WAS BACK >AYND ! ,FIR/ ,WORLD ,W> MESELF - :5 ALL ?AT />T$ *ANG9'4 ,PEOPLE />T$ TO =GET ABAYT ! ?+S ?AT 'AD BE5 SO IMPORTANT TO 'EM FIFTY YE>S BE=E4 ,!Y W]5'T SO C]TA9 ABAYT ,GOD1 OR ,K+1 OR C\NTRY1 & !Y />T$ PULL9' DAYN ! ,BOR\<S1 LETT9' IT FALL 9TO DISREPAIR4 ,CAN Y] SEE :AT ,I'M GETT9' AT8 ,IT WIZ ! C5T] ( ! L&1 ( ,5GL&'S /RUCTURE1 & !Y LET IT COME TO BITS4 ,!Y PUT UP ! ,DE/RUCTOR1 & = YE>S ALL ( ,NOR?AMPTON'S %IT W5T UP ?AT *IMNEY - 'SCUSE MY ,FR5* - & !RE WIZ /9K+ SMOKE FROM ,GRAFTON ,/REET TO ,M>EFAIR4 ,IT BECOME A SYMBOL ( ! WAY ?AT PEOPLE SAW ! ,BOR\<S1 EV5 US :AT LIV$ !RE1 AS A PLACE :]E ALL ! RUBBI% W5T4 ,IT WIZ ?AT DISRESPECT :AT DONE IT1 IF Y\ ASK ME4 ,IT WIZ ?AT :AT GIVE ONE FIL?Y *IMNEY SO MU* P[] 9 PEOPLE'S M9DS40 

,H]E1 ,MR4 ,AZIEL 9T]JECT$4 

0,BIXT VORM FW&YG SULPHECK40 

,IT IS A TORUS1 IS ! SECRET %APE ( SPACE & TIME4 ,TORI 5CLOSE ! NECESS>Y HOLES )9 ! FABRIC ( EXI/5CE1 BUT !IR SPREAD 5DANG]S ALL4 ,! MAN :O /OLE MY *ISEL1 ,SN[Y ,V]NALL1 HAD LE>N$ FROM HIS FA!R ?AT A *IMNEY IS A TORUS4 ,?AT IS :Y HE SP5T MU* ( HIS LIFE ON RO(S1 KEEP+ AN EYE ON ! 9F]NAL ?+S1 :5 ALL ! TIME IT WAS ! *IMNEY/ACK 9 ,BA? ,/REET H]E ?AT POS$ ! ONLY S]I\S ?REAT4 

,A RU% ( SP>KS ]UPT$ FROM ! WELL-M\? ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 SCURRY+ UP 9TO ! D>K BEH9D ! SILH\ETT$ BUILD]4 ,TIMB] WAS COLLAPS+ SOME:]E L[] D[N4 ,MI*AEL WAS /ILL ATTEMPT+ TO LOOK ANY:]E BUT AT ! VIEW BEYOND ! RAIL+S4 ,! OLD PEOPLE 9 !IR UND]PANTS /ILL HUDDL$ 9 A WAIL+1 WEEP+ MASS ( WR9KL$ P9K & SCRUBBY GRAY4 ,! BABY-FAC$ MAN WAS /ILL S++ ! SAME HYMN1 EYES /REAM+ AS ) MAD DET]M9ATION HE />$ FIX$LY 9TO ! HEAT-HAZE4 ,! EXPLOD+ P]SON FUR!R D[N ! BALCONY SEEM$ TO HAVE PAUS$ 9 ORD] TO APPRECIATE ! VIEW1 ONE SPECTACLE LOOK+ ADMIR+LY UPON ANO!R4 ,SOME:]E NE>BY1 P]HAPS ON ! L&+ OV]HEAD1 A TEAM ( FIRE-FI<T+ DEMONS W]E DISCUSS+ ! LOGI/ICS ( ?OSE DEVILS :O HAD W+S FLY+ RECONNAISSANCE ABOVE ! FIRE-PIT ( ! =M] T[N SQU>E4 ,MI*AEL PLAY$ = TIME4 

0,GUT EYE DON'T BLUND]/&6 ,H[ CLANG ONE *ILL]Y-POT CLAWS ALL DIS TURBLE80 

,JOHN SI<$4 

0,BECAUSE ( :]E IT WIZ & :AT IT MEANT1 ?AT'S H[4 ,IT WIZN'T JU/ ,NOR?AMPTON'S WA/E ?AT ! ,DE/RUCTOR WIZ 9T5D$ TO DE/ROY1 IT WIZ ! :OLE COMMUNITY ?AT IT WIZ BUILT RI<T 9 ! MIDDLE (4 ,DE/ROY+ PEOPLE'S DREAMS & HOPES AB\T A BETT] FUTURE = !IR KIDS1 ?AT TAKES A SPECIAL SORT ( FIRE1 A FIRE ?AT PEOPLE 9 ! LIV+ WORLD CAN'T EV5 SEE1 NOT EV5 :5 ITS TURN+ ALL !IR H\SES1 S*OOLS & CL9ICS 9TO RUBBLE4 ,! ?+ WIZ1 A FIRE LIKE ?AT1 Y\ CAN'T JU/ PUT IT \T BY KNOCK+ D[N ! WA/E 9C9]ATOR ?AT IT />T$ FROM4 ,BY ! TIME ! ,DE/RUCTOR WIZ PULL$ D[N1 BACK 9 ! ',?IRTIES1 ITS EFFECTS HAD SPREAD 9TO ! WAY ?AT PEOPLE ?\<T AB\T ! ,BOR\<S & AB\T !MSELVES4 ,ITS SPECIAL SORT ( FIRE HAD SPREAD RI<T TO ! HE>T ( ?+S4 ,D[N 9 ! HALF-WORLD ALL \R <O/S & MEMORIES W]E SMOLD]+1 UNTIL ,MANS\L ITSELF WIZ SET ALI<T4 ,IT'S BURN+1 NIPP]4 ,HEAV5'S BURN+4 ,COME & HAVE A LOOK Y\RSELF1 !N WE CAN ALL GET \T ( H]E40 

,/ILL UNCONV9C$ BUT PROMPT$ BY ! PROMISE ( AN E>LY EXIT FROM ?IS DREADFUL SITUATION1 ,MI*AEL TOOK A SLIPP]$ /EP T[>DS ! L&+'S $GE4 ,HE DIDN'T KN[ IF IT WAS FE> ?AT MADE HIS ?ROAT SO SORE & TI<T OR IF IT WAS ! ,GUY ,FAWKES TANG ! AIR HAD1 BUT HE ALMO/ FELT LIKE HE WAS *OK+4 

0,D\G1 ?AT POLICEMAN BLEW 'IS :I/LE AT US40 

0,I DON'T C>E4 ,IT'S ONLY D[N ,YORK ,ROAD N[4 ,Y\ JU/ 'ANG ON40 

,ALMO/ AT ! GAP-TOO!D RAIL+S1 ,MI*AEL ?\<T HE HE>D HIS MOM'S VOICE OV] ALL ! CLAMOR ( ! DEVILS & ! HI<-VOIC$ MAN :O /ILL SANG ! SAME HYMN1 BUT REALIZ$ ?AT HE MU/ HAVE JU/ IMAG9$ IT4 ,) ,JOHN & ,PHYLLIS /&+ TO EA* SIDE ( HIM1 HE /EPP$ UP TO ! %ORT /RET* ( REMA9+ BALU/RADE & GAZ$ D[N1 BETWE5 ITS PIT*-PA9T$ B>S1 9TO ! RO>+1 SWIRL+ M\? ( ! ,DE/RUCTOR4 

,IT WAS ALL ! DOGS1 ! DRA91 ! SMOKE ?AT EV]Y?+ WAS EI!R GO+ TO1 OR D[N1 OR UP 94 ,IT WAS RACK1 & IT WAS RU91 & ! DE/9ATION ( ! H&C>TS4 ,IT WAS O!R PEOPLE4 ,IT WAS :]E Y\ L$ APES4 ,IT WAS :AT Y\ RODE = LEA!R & :AT CAME 9 ABS5CE ( HI< WAT]4 

,P9K LI<T BROKE ON ,MI*AEL'S *EEKS1 HIS =EHEAD1 & BEL[ ! ,MAYORHOLD WAS A MILE-WIDE MAEL/ROM1 ALL ABLAZE4 ,WORSE1 AS ,JOHN HAD EXPLA9$1 ?IS WAS NOT COMMON FIRE ?AT LIT A CIG>ETTE OR *>R$ A H\SE4 ,?IS WAS 9/EAD A PURE & AWFUL POETRY ( FIRE1 ?AT SET MORALITY & TRU/ & HUMAN HAPP9ESS ALI<T1 ?AT TURN$ ! FRAGILE ?READS CONNECT+ PEOPLE 9TO A%ES4 ,?IS WAS FIRE 5\< TO BURN D[N DEC5CY1 OR SELF-RESPECT1 OR LOVE4 ,MI*AEL LOOK$ D[N 9TO ! SPITT+1 CRACKL+ *ASM4 ,FROM ! FLAM+ DEBRIS TURN+ 9 ITS MAGMA /IR HE REALIZ$ ?AT IT WAS CONSUM+ NO?+ PHYSICAL1 BUT ONLY A MORE PRECI\S FUEL ( WI%ES1 IMAGES1 IDEAS & RECOLLECTIONS4 ,IT WAS AS IF SOME?+ HAD COLLECT$ UP A ?\S& DIFF]5T FAMILY ALBUMS FULL ( CORN]-M\NT$ PHOTOGRAPHS1 REMEMB]$ MOM5TS ?AT HAD BE5 IMPORTANT TO SOMEBODY ONCE1 & 9 A FIT OR MIS]Y OR RAGE HAD ?R[N !M ALL 9TO A FURNACE4 ,BLI/]$ 9CID5TS & SCOR*+ PICTURES CIRCL$ SLUGGI%LY 9 ! VOLCANIC $DY1 9 ! *URN+ BLACK & R$4 

,HE SAW T]RAC$ H\SES FALL AGA9/ EA* O!R 9 A RUN ( DEMOLITION DOM9OES1 COMPLEX SPID]-WEBS ( JITTIES & RE>-5TRIES SIMPLIFI$ TO BLOCKS ( FLATS LIKE GIANT FIL+ CAB9ETS4 ,HUNDR$S ( HEIRLOOM PRAMS ROLL$ RATTL+ & SQUEAK+ D[N A SMOKY GRADI5T 9TO ! ABYSS4 ,EV]YBODY'S PETS DI$1 C\NTLESS BUDGIE-CAGES EMPTY SAVE = %IT & S&PAP] ?AT TUMBL$ 5DLESSLY ?R\< RUDDY D>KNESS4 ,EV]YBODY'S FAVORITE TOYS W]E LO/4 ,SMALL GIRLS :O WANT$ TO BE NURSES1 %[-JUMP]S OR FILM />S PLAY$ A SKIPP+ GAME1 AG+ ) EA* TURN ( ! ROPE TO DRUDGES1 9ADV]T5T MO!RS OR HAIRNETS & PAIRS ( H&S ON A CONVEYOR BELT4 ,SMALL BOYS :O WANT$ TO BE FOOTBALL H]OES KICK$ & KICK$ & KICK$ & NEV] REALIZ$ ?AT !IR GOAL WAS UNATTA9ABLE1 WAS ONLY DRAWN 9 *ALK ONTO ! %ABBY BRICKWORK4 ,5VELOPES FELL ) A SI< ON BRI/LY DOORMATS BR++ BAD NEWS FROM ! FRONT L9E1 BANK OR HOSPITAL4 ,A DESP]ATE L&LORD MURD]$ A /REETWALK] ) A HAMM] 9 ! BACK Y>D ( HIS PUB1 & AT ! HEAD ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET M5 9 BLACK %IRTS ) MU/A*ES & !IR SKULLS %AV$ HALFWAY UP ! BACK HELD RALLIES1 %\T$ SLOGANS & FOLD$ !IR >MS LIKE GODS4 ,EV]Y?+ BURN$ & DIDN'T KN[ IT BURN$4 ,!SE W]E ! PICTURES 9 ?AT FRI<TFUL1 F9AL HE>?4 

,%EEP ,/REET SEEM$ TO HAVE BROK5 9 ! MIDDLE1 ITS NE> 5D A /EEP SLOPE ?AT WAS ALMO/ V]TICAL1 & TOPPL+ D[N IT !RE W]E FIFTY YE>S ( ,BICYCLE ,P>ADES4 ,GIRLS DRESS$ AS FAIRIES RATTL+ !IR COLLECTION T9S1 DELIB]ATELY WONKY BIKES ) OVAL :EELS & M5 :OSE PAPI]-MA*E HEADS ) LEPR\S1 PEEL+ PA9TWORK W]E MU* BIGG] ?AN !IR BODIES - ALL ( !SE P\R$ D[N ! *UTE 9TO ! GAP+ CONFLAGRATION ( ! ,MAYORHOLD & W]E LO/4 ,A M>*+ B& ASSEMBL$ BY ! ,BOY'S ,BRIGADE W5T TUMBL+ AFT] !M 9 A P]CUSSION-HEAVY CLATT]+ ( DRUMS & CYMBALS1 A LONE GLOCK5SPIEL ATTEMPT+ TO P]=M 0,IT'S A ,LONG ,WAY TO ,TIPP]>Y0 BE=E IT WAS SWALL[$ 9 ! LI<T1 ! ?UND]1 ! COLLAPSE4 ,ELEV5-YE>-OLD BOYS ) PLA/]$ HAIR ?AT SMELL$ ( *LOR9E & ) DAMP ,SWISS ROLLS ( T[EL & SWIMM+ TRUNKS 9SIDE !IR %\LD]$ KITBAGS SKITT]$ ON ! TILT+ COBBLES1 TRY+ TO >RE/ !IR SLIDE4 ,NO?+ WAS SAFE1 ! DI/RICT'S S5SE ( SAFETY HAV+ BE5 ! FIR/ ?+ TO CAT* FIRE4 

,A L9E ( BUT*]'S1 B>B]'S1 GRE5GROC]'S & SWEET%OPS ALL W5T 91 & !N A :OLE *UR* ?AT HE ?\<T MI<T BE ,/4 ,&REW'S4 ,MI*AEL WAT*$ IT AS IT GR\ND & SLI!R$ 9EXORABLY T[>DS ! GL>+ $GE & !N TIPP$ OV]1 LIME/ONE BUTTRESSES CRUMBL+ AWAY FROM ! MA9 /RUCTURE1 FALL+ TO ! FIRE/ORM 9 A %[] ( SMA%$ /A9$ GLASS & SMOK+ HYMNALS4 ,PEWS ?AT /ILL HAD T9Y PEOPLE KNEEL+ 9 !M SPILL$ \T ( ! PLUNG+ BUILD+S ?R\< ITS BROK5 DOORS & W9D[S1 DROPP$ 9TO ! ALL-CONSUM+ MORTAL BONFIRE LIKE UNWANT$ DOLLH\SE FURNITURE4 ,EYES /++1 ,MI*AEL SAW HIS [N HOME ON ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 ITS W9D[S COV]$ UP ) CORRUGAT$ T91 AS IT SANK HELPLESSLY 9TO A QUICKS& ( R\< GRASS1 ITS *IMNEY AT L5G? DISAPPE>+ UND]NEA? ! PAT* ( TURF ?AT WAS ITSELF CREEP+ T[>DS FI]Y OBLIVION D[N AN UP5D$ ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET4 ,HORSES PULL+ T9KL+ MILK FLOATS %I$ & SNORT$ 9 DI/RESS1 DROPP$ /EAM+ FIBR\S PANCAKES1 GOOD = ROSES1 :I* W]E QUICKLY %OVEL$ UP 9TO T9 BUCKETS BY ! GRUBBY *ILDR5 :O W]E PLUMMET+ BEH9D !M ON ! SUDD5 9CL9E4 ,EV]Y?+ W5T ON ! PYRE1 W5T D[N ! FLAM+ PAN4 

,MI*AEL UND]/OOD ?AT IT WAS MEAN+ ?AT WAS BE+ TURN$ TO A% H]E1 & WAS NOT REALLY SURPRIS$ ?AT MANY ( ! BURN+1 BLACK5+ SC5>IOS W]E ONLY MEAN+FUL TO HIM4 ,HE SAW HIS /ICK-?9 GR&MA1 ,CL>A1 FALL ABRUPTLY TO A %9Y KIT*5 FLOOR ?AT WASN'T R$ & BLUE TILES LIKE ! ONE !Y HAD D[N ON ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD4 ,HE SAW HIS NAAN1 ,MAY1 CLUT*+ AT H] DROOP+ BOSOM AS %E /UMBL$ D[N ! PASSAGE ( A LITTLE MOD]N FLAT SOME:]E ?AT WASN'T ,GRE5 ,/REET1 TRY+ TO REA* ! FRONT DOOR & FRE% AIR1 COLLAPS+ ON H] FACE & LY+ /ILL 9/EAD4 ,HE SAW A HUNDR$ O!R OLD M5 & OLD WOM5 MOV$ FROM ! CONDEMN$ HOMES :]E !Y'D RAIS$ !IR FAMILIES1 DUMP$ 9 DI/ANT DI/RICTS ) NOBODY ?AT !Y KNEW & FAIL+ TO SURVIVE ! TRANSPLANT4 ,BY ! DOZ5 !Y KEEL$ OV] ON ! WELL-LIT /AIRS ( !IR NEW H\SES2 9 ! UNFAMILI> 9DOOR TOILETS2 ONTO !IR UNPREC$5T$ FITT$ C>PETS2 ON ! PILL[S ( MAGNOLIA-PA9T$ B$ROOMS ?AT !Y FAIL$ TO WAKE TO4 ,C\NTLESS FUN]ALS FELL 9TO ! ,MAYORHOLD'S FIRES1 & FURTIVE TE5AGE LOVE-AFFAIRS1 & FRI5D%IPS BETWE5 RELOCAT$ *ILDR5 S5T TO DIFF]5T S*OOLS4 ,9FANTS BEGAN TO UND]/& ?AT !Y W\LD PROBABLY N[ NEV] M>RY ! CLASSMATE ?AT !Y HAD BE5 EXPECT+ TO4 ,ALL ! CONNECT+ TISSUE1 ! AFFECTIONS & ASSOCIATIONS1 BECAME C9D]S4 ,HE BECAME AW>E ?AT HE WAS WEEP+1 HAD PRESUMABLY BE5 WEEP+ = SOME TIME4 

,9 ! %IFT+ LAVA PATT]NS ( ! HELL-WELL HE C\LD SEE ?AT ALL ( IT1 ! WA/+ ( HIS NEI<BORHOOD1 HAD BE51 WAS1 OR W\LD BE = NO?+4 ,! DECL9E & POV]TY ?AT M>K$ ! ,BOR\<S WAS A SICKNESS 9 ! HUMAN HE>T ?AT W\LD NOT BE IMPROV$ BY PULL+ D[N ITS OLDE/ &1 9EVITABLY1 BE/-CON/RUCT$ BUILD+S4 ,SCATT]+ ! DISPLAC$ OCCUPANTS W\LD ONLY SPREAD ! HE>TBREAK & MALAISE TO O!R >EAS1 LIKE TRY+ TO PUT \T A BURN+ PILE ( LEAVES ) AN ELECTRIC FAN4 ,IT WAS ?AT SPREAD ( ! ,BOR\<S' CONDITION1 ,MI*AEL KNEW1 ?AT WAS ! WOR/ P>T ( ?IS :OLE DISA/]4 ,MI*AEL KNEW H[ IT HAD HAPP5$ & H[ IT W\LD ALL WORK \T4 ,HE SAW BO? PA/ & FUTURE 9 COMBU/$ RUBBI% CIRCL+ ! NI<TM>E PLU<OLE ( ! A/RAL T[N SQU>E4 

,!RE W]E SEPIA C\NCILORS & PLANN]S 9 ,$W>DIAN (FICES *ANG+ ! WAY !Y ?\<T AB\T ! POOR1 FROM SEE+ !M AS PEOPLE :O HAD PROBLEMS TO PROBLEMS !MSELVES1 PROBLEMS ( CO/ & MA!MATICS ?AT C\LD BE RESOLV$ BY T[]-BLOCK PROPOSALS OR BY COLUMNS 9 A BALANCE-BOOK4 ,HE SAW BLUE PO/]S ) A WOMAN'S FACE ON4 ,%E HAD PA9$ EYES LIKE SOMEBODY :O'S EMB>RASS$ BY Y\ BUT IS TOO POLITE TO SAY1 & A NOSE BUILT ONLY = LOOK+ D[N4 ,\T ( ! HO>D+S %E GAZ$ CONDESC5D+LY ACROSS A L&SCAPE :]E ! CLE>ANCE >EAS MULTIPLI$1 ,5GL& UNRAVEL+ FROM ITS C5T] \TW>DS UNTIL ALMO/ EV]Y:]E WAS DRUNK & \T ( WORK & 9 A FI<T1 JU/ LIKE ! ,BOR\<S4 ,EV]Y REGION />T$ TO DESC5D ! SAME SLOPE ?AT L$ H]E1 ?AT L$ TO SOOT1 SP>KS & ANNIHILATION4 ,ON ! PO/]S1 BACKGR\ND COLORS ALT]$ & ! WOMAN'S PICTURE WAS TORN D[N TO BE REPLAC$ BY ?OSE ( M5 :OSE SMILES LOOK$ =C$ OR 9S9C]E1 IF !Y C\LD EV5 SMILE AT ALL4 ,SPY CAM]AS FL[]$ FROM LAMPPO/S & ! PUB NAMES MELT$ 9TO GIBB]I%4 ,PEOPLE WAV$ !IR FI/S1 !N KNIVES1 !N GUNS4 ,HE C\LD SEE MONEY1 RU/L+ FL[S ( BLUE & P9K & VIOLET PAP] BLE$+ FROM /ABB$ S*OOLS & GA%$ AM5ITIES4 ,HE C\LD SEE AN 5TIRE WORLD SPIRAL+ D[N 9TO ! 9C5DI>Y MAW ( ! ,DE/RUCTOR4 

,OV] ON ! SQU>E'S F> SIDE1 /&+ UPON ONE TI] ( :AT SEEM$ TO BE AN UNFOLD$ W$D+-CAKE ( UGLY CONCRETE1 ! P9K-FAC$ MAN />T$ UP HIS HYMN AGA9 FROM ! BEG9N+4 ,ELSE:]E1 ONE BY ONE1 ! UND]DRESS$ & WEEP+ P5SION]S W9K$ FROM EXI/5CE AS !Y WOKE FROM !IR APPALL+ DREAMS TO WET %EETS1 W>DS OR C>E-HOME DORMITORIES4 ,FUR!R D[N ! DAMAG$ L&+ ?AT ! BUILD] & ! PHANTOM KIDS W]E P]*$ UPON1 ! WALK+ BALL ( LI<T & NOISE & %RAPNEL BROKE (F FROM HIS CONTEMPLATION ( ! FALL ( ,MANS\L & COMM5C$ AGA9 HIS PATI5T1 SOIL$-TR\S] %UFFLE D[N ! BALCONY T[>DS !M1 WEEP+ /EAM1 ) FLY+ NAILS & RIVETS AS HIS HALO4 ,IT WAS TIME TO GO4 ,MI*AEL HAD SE5 5\<4 

,!Y RE5T]$ ! ,WORKS BY ! SW+ DOOR & W5T BACK D[N ! C>V5 BLOCKS ( FIRMAM5T ?AT W]E ! /AIRS1 PULL+ !IR DRESS+ G[NS OR JUMP]S UP OV] !IR NOSES LONG BE=E !Y REA*$ ! LEVEL :]E ! SMOKE BEGAN4 ,ABOVE ! *OPPY VAPOR OCEAN1 ,MI*AEL C\LD SEE ! UPP] REA*ES ( ! L>G] DEVILS AS !Y WAD$ ?R\< ! FUM+ FA?OMS TO ATTACK ! BLAZE AT ! NOR? 5D4 ,SOME?+ ?AT HAD ! HEAD & %\LD]S ( AN IMM5SE CAMEL - IF CAMELS W]E MADE FROM DIRTY BUBBLE-GUM - /OOD SQUIRT+ SP9N+ GLOBES ( HYP]-WAT] AT ! BURN+ NOR!RN WALL4 ,=M+ A L9E AGA9 & HANG+ ON ! CLO?+ ( ! <O/ 9 FRONT ( !M1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG LET ,MR4 ,AZIEL LEAD !M D[N 9TO ! SUFFOCAT+ %R\D4 

0,!RE IT IS6 ,!RE'S ! 'ORSPITAL6 ,GOO FA/]1 ,D\G4 ,GOO FA/]40 

,IT TOOK A :ILE = !M TO MAKE !IR WAY BACK OV] ! SMA%$1 FI5D-VACAT$ FLAG/ONES TO ! CROOK-DOOR 9 ! CORN]1 :]E ! M\RNFUL BUILD] %OOK !IR H&S & SAID F>EWELL TO !M1 ) ! F>EWELL ALONE TAK+ A GOOD FIVE M9UTES4 ,! GANG NAVIGAT$ ! DIS9TEGRAT+ TOP FLOOR ( ! <O/-BUILD+ BEL[ ! ,WORKS1 !N C>EFULLY DESC5D$ ?R\< ! SOAK$ & GAP+ /ORIES L[] D[N1 H& OV] H&1 ! SAME WAY !Y'D GONE UP4 ,NOBODY SAID MU*4 ,!RE WAS NO?+ MU* TO SAY AFT] !Y'D WITNESS$ ! ,DE/RUCTOR4 ,BE=E ,MI*AEL KNEW IT1 HE WAS DROPP+ ?R\< ! <O/-GANG'S SECRET TRAPDOOR 9 ! PHANTOM RU9'S WAT]LOGG$ FLOOR1 D[N ONTO ! LAMP-LIT PAVEM5T \TSIDE ! ,SALVATION ,>MY PLACE 9 ,T[] ,/REET4 ,! SIX KIDS ASSEMBL$ ) !IR TRAIL+ LOOK-ALIKES UPON ! SUNK5 WALKWAY1 ODORLESS & COLORLESS AGA9 N[ !Y W]E BACK D[N 9 ! HALF-WORLD1 & AWAIT$ ,PHYLLIS'S COMM&4 

0,RI<T1 !N4 ,LET'S DIG BACK 9TO #a#i#e#i1 SO WE CAN GOO UP TO ,MANS\L :5 IT'S NOT BURN9' DAYN4 ,IF ,MI*AEL ']E'S TO GET BACK TO 'IS BODY1 IT'LL 'AVE TO BE DONE FROM ! ,ATTICS O' ! ,BREA?1 ! SAME WAY 'E COME UP ']E4 ,EV]YBODY PIT* 9 SO WE GET ! 'OLE DUG QUICK]1 & BE C>EFUL TO /OP DIGG9' '=E WE REA* ?AT BLOODY <O/-/ORM4 ,IF WE GO BACK TO JU/ AFT] !M TWO ,MA/] ,BUILD]S 'AD !IR FI<T1 ,I RECKON ?AT %\LD DO US40 

,& ?AT WAS PRECISELY :AT !Y DID1 SCRAP+ AWAY SOME FIFTY YE>S ( ,MAYORHOLD UNTIL !Y W]E ALL ABLE TO CLIMB ?R\< ! RESULTANT HOLE 9TO ! BULB-LIT CELL> ( ! NEWSAG5T'S1 [N$ BY POORLY-LOOK+ ,H>RY ,TRASL] !RE 9 ,MI*AEL'S NATIVE TIME-ZONE4 ,!Y PICK$ !IR WAY ?R\< ALL ! ,AM]ICAN ADV5TURE MAGAZ9ES1 SWAGG]+ & SALACI\S M\NTA9S ?AT MO/ PROBABLY 9TIMIDAT$ ! NEAT1 N]V\S /ACKS ( ,WOMAN'S ,REALM :I* !Y W]E /&+ NEXT TO4 ,FLOAT+ UP ! /AIRS & ?R\< ! CLUTT]$ %OP1 :]E ! PROPRIETOR & HIS ELD]LY MO!R W]E CONDUCT+ AN 5TIRELY SIL5T >GUM5T1 ! GANG & !IR PURSU+ AFT]-PICTURES P\R$ !MSELVES ONTO ! GRASS-PI]C$ PAVEM5T BORD]+ ! ,MAYORHOLD4 

,IT WAS EVID5TLY SOME TIME FOLL[+ ! PREVI\S OCCASION ?AT !Y'D BE5 D[N !RE1 BUT NOT BY V]Y LONG4 ,! MORTAL =M] T[N SQU>E /ILL 5JOY$ ITS SUNNY AFT]NOON1 & ! BOYS ) ! ACID-DROPS :OM !Y'D SE5 FI<T+ E>LI] APPE>$ TO HAVE MADE UP4 ,AS = ! <O/-SEAM1 IT TOO SEEM$ TO HAVE RETURN$ TO SOME?+ LIKE NORMALITY4 ,! SUP]-RA9 WAS OV]1 LEAV+ PHANTOM PUDDLES FIZZ+ 9 ! COBBL$ GUTT]S1 UNSE5 BY ! LIV+1 & ?\< ,MI*AEL'S DRESS+ G[N WAS RUFFL$ BY MILD GU/S ( AN ABID+ SPECTRAL W9D HE ?\<T ! <O/-/ORM MU/ BE F9I%$ ) BY N[4 ,! L5S-LIKE >EAS ( VISUAL DI/ORTION ?AT HAD ROLL$ >\ND ! PLACE & SIGNIFI$ ! PRES5CE ( ! BRAWL+ ,MA/] ,BUILD]S 9 ! WORLD ABOVE W]E GONE1 & SO W]E ! TWO MURD]\S <O/-WOM5 :O'D BE5 TRY+ TO TE> EA* O!R 9TO COBWEBS \TSIDE ! ,GRE5 ,DRAGON4 ,! ONLY REMA9+ 9DICATIONS ( ! BAD MOOD ?AT HAD GRIPP$ ! ,MAYORHOLD E>LI] W]E ! TWO ,JEWI%-LOOK+ <O/S1 *UCKL+ & DU/+ (F !IR H&S AS !Y /EPP$ FROM ! PUBLIC TOILETS ON ! SQU>E'S F> SIDE1 9TO :I* ,MI*AEL1 E>LI]1 HAD SE5 !M DRAG ONE ( ?OSE M5 9 ! BLACK %IRTS :O TURN$ UP >\ND H]E FROM TIME TO TIME4 ,AP>T FROM ?AT IT WAS A P]FECTLY AGREEABLE DAY1 !RE 9 #aiei AT ! CONV]G5CE ( ! EI<T /REETS ?AT HAD ONCE COMPRIS$ ! ANCI5T T[N%IP4 ,PHYLLIS1 ) ONE >M DRAP$ >\ND ,MI*AEL'S %\LD]1 TOOK *>GE ( ! SITUATION4 

0,WELL1 !N IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME TO TAKE AYR REGIM5TAL MASCOT 'OME4 ,WE'LL GO UP ?R\< ! OLD ,TAYN ',ALL 9TO ! ,WORKS & !N TAKE 'IM ACROSS ! ,ATTICS TO ! 'ORSPITAL40 

,DR[N$ ,M>JORIE PIP$ UP AT ?IS PO9T1 S\ND+ A BIT IRRITAT$4 

0,PHYLL1 ?AT'LL TAKE AGES4 ,Y\ KN[ '[ MU* BIGG] EV]Y?+ WIZ ,UP/AIRS4 ,:Y CAN'T WE JU/ TAKE HIM ?R\< ! <O/-SEAM & !N GO ,UP/AIRS :5 WE GET TO ! 444 OH4 ,OH1 RI<T4 ,I SEE4 ,=GET ?AT ,I SAID ANY?+40 

,PHYLLIS NODD$1 SATISFI$ BY ,M>JORIE'S SORT-( APOLOGY4 

0,SEE :AT ,I MEAN8 ,DAYN AT ! 'ORSPITAL !RE ISN'T ANY ,JACOB ,FLI<T SO WE CAN GET ,UP/AIRS4 ,I KN[ IT'S A LONG SLOG ACROSS ,MANS\L1 BUT !RE'S NO O!R WAY TO DO IT40 

,BILL1 :O HAD BE5 /&+ BY HIMSELF & />+ ?\<TFULLY T[>DS ! PUBLIC TOILETS AT ! FOOT ( ,SILV] ,/REET1 SPOKE UP AT ?IS PO9T4 

0,YES !RE WIZ4 ,I KN[ A WAY ?AT WE C\LD GET !RE QUICK]4 ,REG1 Y\ COME ) ME4 ,AS = Y\ O!RS1 WE'LL MEET Y\ LOT ,UP/AIRS 9 FIVE M9UTES' TIME40 

,) ?AT1 GRABB+ ! SLEEVE ( A BEWILD]$ ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 ,BILL RAN (F ALONG ! WE/ SIDE ( ! ,MAYORHOLD BE=E ,PHYLLIS C\LD =BID :ATEV] HE WAS PLANN+4 ,! TWO BOYS TURN$ RI<T JU/ A LITTLE WAY (F1 VANI%+ 9TO ! UPP] /RET* ( ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET ?AT HAD BE5 ! SUNK5 WALKS ( ,T[] ,/REET UP 9 #bf ONLY T5 M9UTES BACK4 ,BY ! TIME ?AT ! GANG GOT TO ! CORN] ?AT !IR PALS HAD DISAPPE>$ >\ND1 ! CORN] :]E ! MORTAL ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S /OOD1 ,REGGIE & ,BILL HAD DUG A N>R[ TIME-HOLE & SQUEEZ$ ?R\< IT4 ,!Y W]E ON ! AP]TURE'S F> SIDE1 HURRI$LY FILL+ 9 ! GAP !Y'D MADE BY DRAGG+ ?READS ( DAY & NI<T ACROSS ! OP5+1 SO ?AT IT W9K$ \T ( EXI/5CE ALTOGE!R BE=E ,PHYLLIS & ! O!RS REA*$ IT4 

0,OOH1 ?AT AGGRAVAT9' LITTLE BLE$]6 ,Y\ WAIT 'TIL ,I GET MY '&S ON 'IM & BLOODY ,REGGIE6 ,AS IF WE'D NOT GOT 5\< ON AYR PLATE AS IT WIZ1 )AYT !M CLE>9' (F LIKE ?AT4 ,WELL1 SOD 'EM4 ,WE'LL TAKE ,MI*AEL 'OME )AYT 'EM4 ,COME ON40 

,) H] /R+ ( RABBITS SW++ ANGRILY %E M>*$ ACROSS ! ,SC>LETWELL ,/REET COBBLES TO ! D]ELICT PLACE ON ! CORN] OPPOSITE ! ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S4 ,MI*AEL1 ,JOHN & ,M>JORIE TRAIL$ AFT] H] ) ! EXHAU/-FUME PUTT] ( H] AFT]-PICTURES BREAK+ UP AGA9/ !IR FACES4 ,MI*AEL NOTIC$ ,PHYLLIS MAK+ N]V\S GLANCES BACK ACROSS H] %\LD] AT ! ,JOLLY ,SMOK]S AS %E DID SO1 AS IF HALF-EXPECT+ ,MICK ,MALONE OR ?AT MAN ) ! CRAWL+ FACE TO BUR/ \T FROM IT & DEV\R H]4 

,SEEP+ ?R\< ! BO>D$-UP FRONT DOOR ( ! =GOTT5 T[N HALL1 ! QU>TET ( <O/-KIDS F\ND ! PLACE 9 MU* ! SAME CONDITION AS :5 !Y'D COME UP ?IS WAY TO SEE ! ANGLES FI<T+4 ,! SAME WALLPAP] HUNG FROM ! PLA/]WORK LIKE SUNBURN1 ! SAME SAVELOY ( POO /ILL CURL$ !RE 9 ITS NE/ ( ,D\BLE ,DIAMOND BOTTLES4 ,! AB&ON$ $IFICE WAS /ILL A ?+ ( BRICKS & MORT> H]E 9 #a#i#e#i1 :]E ORD9>Y SUNLI<T FELL ?R\< SLATS & C>PET$ ! MESSY FLOOR 9 BLAZ+ ZEBRA HIDE4 ,!RE WAS NO 9DICATION ( ! WAT]-DAMAG$ PHANTOM BUILD+ ?AT !Y'D REC5TLY ASC5D$ ?R\<1 :I* W\LD BE ALL ?AT /OOD H]E )9 LESS ?AN FIFTY YE>S4 ,MI*AEL W5T ) ! O!RS UP ! HALF-COLLAPS$ /AIRS1 GRATEFUL ?AT !Y DIDN'T HAVE TO CLIMB LIKE SPID]S UP ?AT TREA*]\S & TRICKL+ WALL AGA94 

,ON ! TOP FLOOR !Y MADE !IR WAY ALONG 9TO ! MOLD]+ BOXROOM AT ! 5D1 :]E A CONFETTI ( PALE HUES DIFFUS$ 9TO ! <O/-SEAM'S GRAY ?R\< ! CROOK-DOOR ATOP A CREAKY ,JACOB ,FLI<T1 FUGITIVE COLOR FILT]+ FROM ! HI<] WORLD4 ,! GANG M\NT$ ! USELESS %ALL[ /EPS 9 S+LE FILE1 TAK+ ON P9K & BLUE & ORANGE AS IF !Y W]E \TL9ES 9 A COLOR+ BOOK4 ,! S\NDS ( ,MANS\L WELL$ >\ND !M LIKE !ME MUSIC 9 ! LA/ FIVE M9UTES ( A FILM4 

,AS ! *ILDR5 EM]G$ ONTO ! E*O+ & BU/L+ %OP FLOOR ( ! ,WORKS1 ,MI*AEL WAS PLEAS$ TO SEE ?AT IT WAS JU/ H[ HE REMEMB]$ IT FROM ! FIR/ TIME HE'D BE5 UP H]E4 ,! L[]-RANK+ BUILD]S ) !IR ROBES T9T$ LIKE PIGEON-NECKS W]E HURRY+ EV]Y:]E ACROSS ! SEV5TY-TWO MASSIVE FLAG/ONES ?AT N[ WRI!D ) PA9T$ IMAG]Y AGA91 ! PAV+'S DEMON OCCUPANTS ALL BACK 9 PLACE & SC9TILLAT+ ) MALEVOL5CE4 ,!RE W]E NO SMUDGE-FAC$ ANGLES OR HUGE DIAMOND TOADS 5GAG$ 9 BATTL+ A BLAZE & !RE WAS NO SMOKE 444 OR AT LEA/1 NOT YET4 ,NOT = ANO!R =TY YE>S OR SO4 ,! TODDL] FELT HAUNT$1 FELT ALL HORRIBLE :5EV] HE 9VOLUNT>ILY REMEMB]$ ! ,DE/RUCTOR2 :5 HE ?\<T ( ?AT 9C5DI>Y MILL:EEL GR9D+ ,MI*AEL'S HOME & WORLD & GR&MO!RS TO NO?+ :ILE IT CONSUM$ P>ADISE4 ,H[ C\LD ?AT BE8 ,H[ C\LD ?IS BUSY REALM ( 5T]PRISE & ORD] GO SO LIT]ALLY TO HELL 9 A FEW DECADES1 MORE ?AN LIKELY )9 ,MI*AEL'S R5EW$ LIFETIME8 ,H[ C\LD HEAV5 BE ON FIRE UNLESS IT WAS ! 5D ( EV]Y?+1 ONLY A FEW SCORE YE>S 9TO ! FUTURE8 ,IT DI/URB$ HIM MORE ?AN ANY ( ! FRI<TS OR FREAKS HE'D WITNESS$ 9 ! <O/-SEAM1 & HE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE TO ?9K AB\T IT4 

,DEFTLY1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG WOVE !IR WAY 9TO ! COMPLICAT$ *OREOGRAPHY ( ! 9DU/RI\S BUILD]S1 DUCK+ ?R\< BRIEF GAPS 9 ! CONT9U\S PROCESSIONS ( !SE GRAY-ROB$ WORKM51 SKIPP+ OV] NUM]\S DISC>D$ 0,WELCOME TO ! ,WORKS0 BOOKS ?AT HAD BE5 DROPP$ TO ! DEMON-DECORAT$ FLOOR+4 ,!Y W]E HEAD+ NOT = ! S\? WALL ?AT HAD ! /ELL> /AIRWAY & ! CRUDELY-R5D]$ EMBLEM HALFWAY UP IT1 BUT T[>DS ! EA/]N SIDE ( ! 5CLOSURE1 :]E IT LOOK$ AS IF !RE W]E A DOOR ?AT L$ \T TO /REET-LEVEL RA!R ?AN ! ELEVAT$ BALCONIES4 ,LIKE ! EXITS UP/AIRS1 ?IS WAS A SW+ PORTAL ) A /A9$-GLASS PANEL SIMIL> TO ! ONES Y\ SOMETIMES SAW 9 PUBS4 ,!Y PU%$ IT OP5 & ! MORN+ BREEZES ( ,MANS\L WA%$ OV] !M1 ALMO/ DISPELL+ ! >OMA ( !IR LEAD]'S RANCID NECKLACE4 

,IT WAS A F9E DAY ,UP/AIRS1 ) ?AT SMELL LIKE BURN$ SOIL :I* HUNG OV] SUMM] /REETS AFT] A /ORM4 ,ON ! MILE-WIDE EXPANSE ( ! UNFOLD$ ,MAYORHOLD !RE W]E MANY BRI<TLY-DRESS$ <O/S /&+ !RE *ATT+ EXCIT$LY AB\T ! JU/-CONCLUD$ BRAWL BETWE5 ! BUILD]S4 ,MEAN:ILE O!R SPIRITS TRI$ TO *IP (F FRAGM5TS FROM ! SOLID POOLS ( H>D5$ GOLD ?AT LAY 9 DAZZL+ SPLOT*ES R\ND ! SQU>E :I* ,MI*AEL1 ) SOME CON/]NATION1 REALIZ$ W]E DRI$ ANGLE-BLOOD4 ,! FI<T HAD OBVI\SLY F9I%$ ONLY REC5TLY1 & ,MI*AEL F\ND HIMSELF CONSID]+ ! COMBATANTS & WOND]+ :AT !Y W]E DO+ N[1 AL?\< SOMEH[ HE KNEW4 

,9 HIS M9D'S EYE HE SAW ! :ITE-HAIR$ BUILD]1 :O W\LD EV5 N[ BE /RID+ ANGRILY ALONG ! WALKWAYS UP ABOVE ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA? ) ONE EYE BLACK5$ & HIS LIPS SPLIT4 ,HE'D BE ON HIS WAY BACK TO ! TRILLI>D HALL TO TAKE HIS 9T]RUPT$ %OT :5 HE MET ) S>DONIC ,SAM ,O',DAY !RE ON ! BALCONIES OV] ! VA/ EMPORIUM4 ,RI<T AT ?IS MOM5T1 ,MI*AEL KNEW ?AT ELSE:]E 9 ,MANS\L ! TWO ET]NAL FOES CONFRONT$ ONE ANO!R ON ! L&+ :ILE1 SOME:]E BEL[ !M1 HE HIMSELF LOOK$ UP & WOND]$ :O !Y W]E4 ,:AT IF HE GOT ! GANG TO TAKE HIM TO ! ,ATTICS N[1 SO HE C\LD MEET HIMSELF & O!R-,PHYLLIS AS !Y MADE !IR WAY ACROSS ! GIANT HALL ( FLOOR-DOORS8 ,EXCEPT HE C\LDN'T DO ?AT1 C\LD HE1 BECAUSE ?AT HAD NOT BE5 :AT HAD HAPP5$8 

,) HIS ?REE <O/-FRI5DS1 ,MI*AEL SET \T ACROSS ! ,UP/AIRS V]SION ( ! ,MAYORHOLD1 ! UNFOLD$ BOX+-R+ :]E ! TWO TITAN BUILD]S HAD BUT LATELY COME TO BL[S4 ,ACROSS A SKY SO BLUE ?AT IT WAS ALMO/ TURQUOISE SAIL$ :ITE CL\DS MU* LIKE !IR E>?LY C\NT]P>TS1 SAVE ?AT ! M>BLE %APES & FACES :I* Y\ SAW 9 !M W]E MU* MORE F9ELY *ISEL$1 MU* MORE F9I%$3 P5GU9S1 ,W9/ON ,*UR*ILL1 A TROMBONE1 P]FECTLY SCULPT$ 9 ! A]IAL SN[DRIFTS4 

,N[ ! ,MA/] ,ANGLE W\LD BE 9 SI<T ( ! TRILLI>D HALL1 HIS PACE M>K$ BY ! RHY?MIC DRUMBEAT ( ! BLUE-TIPP$ /AFF HE C>RI$1 ?UDD+ ON ! BO>DWALKS ( ,MANS\L ) EV]Y O!R /EP4 ,HE'D CROSS ! PA? ( HIS D>K-HAIR$ OPPON5T1 :O'D RETURN TO ! CELE/IAL SNOOK] P>LOR BY A DIFF]5T R\TE1 & ! TWO %9+ 5TITIES W\LD NOD TO ONE ANO!R )\T SPEAK+ AS !Y BO? MADE = ! \TSIZ$ TABLE TO RESUME !IR PLAY4 ,MI*AEL C\LD ALMO/ SEE ! CR[D$ SOL> SY/EM ( ! BALLS GR\P$ R&OMLY UPON ! WIDE GRE5 BAIZE1 C\LD ALMO/ SEE HIS [N SMOO?1 POLI%$ SPH]E BALANC$ PREC>I\SLY1 TREMBL+ ON ! LIP ( ! SKULL-DECORAT$ POCKET4 

,! <O/-*ILDR5 HAD PROGRESS$ :AT SEEM$ B>ELY A HUNDR$? ( ! DI/ANCE OV] ! UNFOLD$ =M] T[N SQU>E4 ,BILL1 APP>5TLY1 HAD BE5 CORRECT4 ,IT W\LD TAKE DAYS = !M TO GET D[N TO ! HOSPITAL AT ?IS RATE4 ,MI*AEL'S ?\<TS W]E JU/ BEG9N+ TO DRIFT BACK TO ! 5ORM\S GAM+ TABLE & ! %OT UPON :I* EV]Y?+ DEP5D$ :5 ! /RANGE/ S\ND ?AT HE HAD EV] KN[N SUDD5LY ISSU$ FROM BEH9D HIM1 ROLL+ & REV]B]AT+ 9 ! AUGM5T$ AC\/ICS ( ! ,SECOND ,BOR\<4 ,IT WAS LIKE A ?\S& ORI5TAL MONKS BL[+ !IR ?I<-BONE TRUMPETS ALL AT ONCE1 &1 GIV5 :]E !Y W]E1 ,MI*AEL WAS WORRI$ ?AT IT MI<T BE ! GREAT BLA/ ANN\NC+ ,JUDGM5T ,DAY ?AT HE'D HE>D HIS GRAN M5TION ONCE4 ,! NOISE RANG \T AGA94 ,) ,PHYLLIS1 ,JOHN & ,M>JORIE HE TURN$ TO GAPE AT :AT WAS ?UND]+ ACROSS ! SQU>E T[>DS !M4 

,IT APPE>$ TO BE SOME SORT ( ELEPHANT4 ,AGA9/ ! GLORI\SLY DECORAT$ HO>D+S & FACADES ( ,MANS\L1 ) !IR PA9T$ CIRCUS />S & FUNFAIR DODGEM SWIRLS1 IT SOMEH[ DIDN'T LOOK 5TIRELY \T ( PLACE4 

,:ATEV] IT WAS1 IT WAS C]TA9LY APPROA*+ !M AT A TREM5D\S LICK1 EAT+ ! GR\ND ?AT LAY BETWE5 !M AS IT CANNON$ \T ( :AT MU/ BE ! HI<] V]SION ( ,/4 ,&REW'S ,/REET1 C>ELESSLY ?R[+ BACK ITS TRUNK AT 9T]VALS TO S\ND ITS ?RILL+ & 9SPIR+ W>-CRY ALONG ) ! CAVALRY ( E*OES ?AT IMM$IATELY FOLL[$4 ,AS IT CAME )9 ! RANGE ( ,MI*AEL'S CRY/AL-CLE> AFT]LIFE VISION1 HE OBS]V$ ?AT IT WASN'T MU* LIKE ! ELEPHANTS ?AT HE HAD SE5 ON PO/]S4 ,= ONE ?+ IT WASN'T GRAY1 BUT WAS 9/EAD A LOVELY RUSSET BR[N4 ,?IS WAS BECAUSE IT HAD EI!R BE5 DRESS$ UP 9 A GIANT-SIZ$ FUR COAT1 OR ELSE WAS COV]$ 9 A LAY] ( HAIR4 ,! IDEA ?AT IT MI<T BE G>B$ 9 CLO?+ ( SOME SORT DIDN'T SEEM V]Y LIKELY1 AL?\< ,MI*AEL WAS PREP>$ TO 5T]TA9 IT S9CE ! %AGGY ELEPHANT WAS ALSO WE>+ SOME =M ( NOVELTY HAT ATOP ITS MASSIVE SKULL4 

,?IS DISPROPORTIONATELY T9Y HEADPIECE1 ?\<1 UPON CLOS] 9SPECTION1 WAS AN ORNAM5TAL PLA/] G>D5 GNOME HOLD+ A FI%+ ROD4 ,!N1 AFT] A FEW SECONDS :5 ! BEA/ HAD RUMBL$ A CONSID]ABLE DI/ANCE NE>]1 IT TURN$ \T ?AT IT WAS ,BILL SITT+ !RE ON ! CREATURE'S CRANIUM1 CLUT*+ ! MAKE%IFT FI%+-ROD ) ,REGGIE ,B[L] HANG+ ON = DE> DEA? JU/ BEH9D HIM4 ,:AT 9 H]E'S NAME WAS ALL ?IS AB\T8 ,& :OSE VOICE WAS ?AT HE'D JU/ HE>D1 TALK+ TO SOMEONE CALL$ ,D\G8 ,:O WAS ,D\G8 

0,IS ?IS ! RI<T WAY :AT WE'VE COME 91 ,D\G8 ,DO !Y TAKE PEOPLE ) EM]G5CIES 9 AT ! FRONT LIKE ?IS80 

0,!Y'LL 'AVE TO4 ,OP5 ! DOOR Y\R SIDE1 ,DORE54 ,I'LL GOO R\ND & LIFT 'IM \T 4440 

,MI*AEL WAS HE>+ ?+S AGA94 ,HE %OOK HIS GOLD5 HEAD TO CLE> IT JU/ AS ! HUGE TRUMPET+ BEHEMO? SL[$ & JUDD]$ TO A HALT B>ELY T5 FEET AWAY4 

,P]*$ !RE UPON ! MON/]'S CR[N1 HOLD+ A POLE FROM :I* !RE HUNG A /R+ ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS1 ,BILL GR9N$ D[N AT ,MI*AEL & ! RE/ ) ,REGGIE ,B[L] MAK+ FACES FROM BEH9D HIS %\LD]4 

0,!RE4 ,WIZ ?IS ! BOLLIX1 OR :AT8 ,CLIMB ON UP & WE'LL BE D[N ! 'OSPITAL 9 NO TIME40 

,PHYLLIS />$ UP AT H] REPUT$ LITTLE BRO!R BLANKLY1 !N GAZ$ AT ! ?+ ?AT HE WAS RID+1 EQUALLY UNCOMPREH5D+LY1 & !N LOOK$ BACK AT ,BILL4 

0,:AT WIZ IT80 

,BILL WAS JU/ AB\T TO ANSW] :5 ,JOHN DID IT = HIM4 

0,IT'S A WOOLLY MAMMO?1 ,PHYLL1 OR RA!R IT'S ! <O/ ( ONE4 ,!Y'VE BE5 EXT9CT S9CE PREHI/ORIC TIMES4 ,:]E DID ! TWO ( Y\ F9D ONE ( !SE SO QUICKLY80 

,BILL & ,REGGIE W]E BO? LAU<+ N[4 

0,QUICKLY8 ,Y\'RE JOK+4 ,WE'VE SP5T NE>LY SIX MON?S F9D+ ,MAMMY ']E & TRA9+ '] & EV]Y?+4 ,Y\ WANT TO TRY IT SOMETIME40 

,AS HE SPOKE1 ,BILL WAS ALL[+ ! APP>5TLY TAME ANIMAL TO SNAG A C\PLE ( ! DANGL+ ,PUCK'S ,HATS ) ITS TRUNK1 TE>+ ! FAIRY-BLOSSOMS FROM ! L5G? ( TW9E ?AT !Y W]E /RUNG ON4 ,IT *EW$ UP ! <O/ FRUIT NOISILY1 TWO OR ?REE 9 A S+LE M\?FUL1 & DROOL$ ECTOPLASM AS IT DID SO4 

0,:AT WE DID1 JU/ AFT] WE LEFT Y\1 WE DUG AB\T FIVE M9UTES UP 9TO ! FUTURE & W5T OV] TO ! PUBLIC LAVS !RE ON ! CORN] ( ! ,MAYORHOLD 9 ! <O/-SEAM40 

,REGGIE BROKE 9 H]E1 UNABLE TO CONTA9 HIMSELF4 

0,I TELL Y]1 ,M>JORIE1 GAL1 IT WAS A RI<T LAU<6 ,WE'D SE5 !M TWO OLD ,JEWI% FELL]S COM+ \T ! PRIVY LOOK+ PLEAS$ AS ,PUN*1 & WE REMEMB]$ '[ WE'D SE5 'EM DRAG ONE O' !M *APS ) ! BLACK %IRTS 9 !RE :5 ! TWO BUILD]S 'AD !IR SCRAP4 ,ME & ,BILL1 WE GOES 91 RI<T1 & 'E'S LAY+ !RE KNOCK$ SILLY ) 'IS %ORT-BACK-&-SIDES RE/+ 9 ! TR\<4 ,HE'S 'AV+ A GOOD CRY1 LIKE1 & !RE'S ?AT QUE] FELL] :OSE <O/ LIVES !RE 9 ! TOILETS1 'E'S JU/ /&+ !RE TAK+ ! MICKEY \T ! BLOKE WI' ! BLACK %IRT ON4 ',ONE/LY1 Y\ %\LD HAVE SE5 'EM40 

,REGGIE1 BY ?IS PO9T1 WAS LAU<+ TOO H>D TO CONT9UE1 & SO ,BILL TOOK UP ! TALE4 

0,SO1 ANYWAY1 ,REGGIE & ME1 WE 'ELP ?IS ,BLACK%IRT TO 'IS FEET & WR+ ! <O/-PISS \T 'IS TR\S] LEG1 :ILE 'E GOES ON AB\T US BE+ FELL[ ,>YANS & ALL ?AT4 ,I DIDN'T TELL 'IM '[ \R DAD ?REW ,COL9 ,JORDAN 9 ! ,TYNE ONCE1 BECAUSE WE W]E GETT+ ON SO WELL ,I DIDN'T WANT TO SPOIL IT4 ,ME & ,REGGIE SAID WE'D 'ELP HIM TO GET BACK TO HIS [N TIMES1 BACK !RE 9 ! ',?IRTIES :5 ! ,BLACK%IRTS 'AD !IR (FICE ON ! ,MAYORHOLD ']E & !RE W]E A FEW ,BLACK%IRT <O/S = 'IM TO KNOCK AB\T )4 

0,WELL1 WE DUG HIM BACK 9TO ! ',?IRTIES1 ONLY :5 WE RAN 9TO 'IS FASCI/ MATES WE TOLD 'EM '[ WE'D SE5 TWO ,JEWI% BLOKES COME \T ! TOILETS LOOK9' SATISFI$ & !N GONE 9 TO F9D !IR *AP 9 CONV]SATION ) A WELL-KN[N 'OMOSEXUAL4 ,!Y ?ANK$ US = TELL9' 'EM1 !N :ILE !Y DRAGG$ 'IM \T TO ! BACK Y>D SO !Y C\LD KICK 'IS 'EAD 91 ME & ,REG ']E NICK$ ! <O/ OR DREAM ( !IR BIG ,BRITI% ,UNION ( ,FASCI/S BANN]1 & !N WE DUG \R WAY UP TO A FEW '\RS BE=E WE ALL W5T TO ! ASYLUMS SO ?AT WE C\LD GET !RE FIR/ & GRAB MO/ ( ! ,PUCK'S ',ATS40 

,PHYLLIS1 :O ,MI*AEL HAD ?\<T W\LD GO B]S]K AT ?IS PO9T 9 ! N>RATIVE1 WAS 9/EAD LOOK+ FROM ,BILL TO ! MUN*+ MAMMO? & !N AT ! DW9DL+ /R+ ( MAD APPLES ?AT W]E SUSP5D$1 TANTALIZ+LY1 ABOVE ! CREATURE'S HEAD4 ,AT LA/ A BROAD SMILE BROKE ACROSS H] PO9T$1 FOX-LIKE FEATURES AS %E WORK$ \T :AT HAD HAPP5$4 

0,OOH1 Y\ CRAFTY LITTLE BLE$]4 ,D'Y] MEAN TO TELL ME ?AT Y\ TOOK ALL ( !M ,J5NIES1 WRAPP$ UP 9 ! BANN]1 & DUG ALL ! WAY BACK TO - 0 

,BILL LOOK$ SO SMUG ?AT HE WAS GO+ TO HAVE TO GR[ AN EXTRA HEAD TO FIT HIS SMIRK ON4 

0444 ALL ! WAY BACK TO ! ,ICE ,AGE4 ,IT WAS BLOODY COLD4 ,I TELL Y]1 Y\ C\LD FEEL ! DRAFT FROM ! ?IRD C5TURY ,B,C & IT GOT WORSE ! FUR!R BACK WE W5T4 ,9 ! 5D WE 'APP5$ UPON ,MAMMY ']E :ILE %E WAS /ILL ALIVE1 & !N WAIT$ = '] TO KICK ! BUCKET SO ?AT WE C\LD MAKE FRI5DS ) '] <O/ BY FE$+ '] ! ,PUCK'S ',ATS4 ,?AT'S :AT TOOK MO/ O' ! TIME4 ,ONCE WE'D ALL GOT TO KN[ EA* O!R WE L$ ,MAMMY BACK ALONG ! TIME-HOLE 9TO #a#i#e#i1 & !N GOT '] UP ']E \T ( ! <O/-SEAM SO ?AT %E C\LD BE \R RIDE D[N TO ! 'OSPITAL4 ,COME ON1 CLIMB ABO>D4 ,I TELL Y]1 IT'S LIKE ,:IPSNADE ,ZOO BE+ UP ']E40 

,N[ EV]YONE WAS GR9N+1 & ESPECIALLY ,MI*AEL4 ,?IS WAS IT4 ,?IS WAS ! TREAT1 ! P>TY1 ! SURPRISE1 ! S5D(F HE'D BE5 HOP+ =4 ,ALL GIGGL+1 ,PHYLLIS1 ,MI*AEL1 ,JOHN & ,M>JORIE TRI$ TO WORK \T H[ !Y W]E MEANT TO M\NT ! MAMMO?1 F9ALLY ELECT+ TO JU/ CLIMB UP ITS BACK LEGS US+ ?ICK TUFTS ( GOLD5-BR[N HAIR = !IR H&HOLDS4 ,MAMMY DIDN'T SEEM TO M9D4 ,H] SMALL EYES BL9K$ CONT5T$LY DEEP 9 ! WR9KLE-VORTEX ( !IR SOCKETS AS %E CANNILY DETA*$ ANO!R ,PUCK'S ,HAT FROM ! DANGL+ /R+ & WOLF$ IT D[N4 ,?IS BE+ ! LA/ ONE1 ,BILL PASS$ ! POLE & EMPTY L9E TO ,REGGIE1 :O SAT ON ! BRI/L+ HUMP ( ,MAMMY'S NECK IMM$IATELY BEH9D HIM ) A HALF-FULL FASCI/ SACK ( ,B$LAM ,J5NIES 9 HIS LAP4 ,SWIFTLY & EXP]TLY - HE'D HAD SIX MON?S TO PRACTICE1 AFT] ALL - ! B[L]-HATT$ UR*9 ?READ$ EI<T OR N9E ( ! RIPE <O/-FRUITS ON ! LURE & GAVE IT BACK TO ,BILL4 

,:ILE ?IS REFUEL+ OP]ATION W5T ON1 ! F\R O!R WRAI?-KIDS SCRAMBL$ UP 9TO POSITION ON !IR PREHI/ORIC /E$4 ,DR[N$ ,M>JORIE CLIMB$ UP ONTO ! MAMMO?'S BACK FIR/ SO ?AT %E C\LD SIT !RE BEH9D ,REGGIE1 ) H] >MS LOOP$ R\ND HIS MIDDLE AS IF HE W]E TAK+ H] \T = A RIDE UPON ! PILLION ( HIS HAIRY1 ICE-AGE MOTORBIKE4 ,MI*AEL W5T NEXT1 CL++ 9 ! MASSIVE <O/'S TOA/-COLOR$ FUR1 RUBB+ HIS *EEK AGA9/ ! NAP & DR9K+ 9 ! ANCI5T MU/4 ,PHYLLIS WAS SNUGGL$ UP TO ,MI*AEL'S BACK1 :I* WAS A LOVELY FEEL+ BUT SMELL$ DREADFUL1 :ILE ,JOHN SAT !RE AT ! TAIL-5D & HELD ON PROTECTIVELY TO ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S LEAD]4 ,! P]FUME ( ,PHYLLIS ,PA9T]'S V]M9-]M9E DIDN'T SEEM TO BO!R ,JOHN AT ALL4 

,! V>I\S <O/S AB\T ! ,MANS\L ,MAYORHOLD ON ?AT RADIANT BLUE AFT]NOON HAD MO/LY /OPP$ :AT !Y W]E DO+ TO ADMIRE ! MA/ODON1 ?IS GR&1 T5-FOOT HI< SPECIM5 ) ITS SIXTE5-FOOT TUSKS ?AT HAD SO UNEXPECT$LY >RIV$ !RE 9 !IR MID/4 ,EV5 ! GOLD-PROSPECTORS1 :O W]E /ILL TRY+ H>D TO *ISEL UP A PRECI\S FRAGM5T ( COAGULAT$ ANGLE-BLOOD FROM ! FLAT PUDDLES ?AT W]E EV]Y:]E1 PAUS$ 9 !IR LABOR TO 9SPECT ?IS LATE/ NOVELTY4 ,:AT AN EXTRAORD9>Y DAY1 !Y MU/ HAVE ALL BE5 ?9K+1 EV5 BY ! EXTRAORD9>Y /&>DS ?AT APPLI$ ,UP/AIRS4 ,FIR/ TWO COLOSSAL ,MA/] ,BUILD]S SMACK EA* O!R SILLY1 !RE 9 ! UNFOLD$ T[N SQU>E1 & N[ ?IS TURNS UP6 ,:ATEV] NEXT8 

,COZY AGA9/ ! PREHI/ORIC PLU%1 ,MI*AEL WAS ?9K+ AB\T ,MI<TY ,MIKE1 HIS NAMESAKE ) ! EV5 PAL] HAIR1 :O EV5 AT ?IS MOM5T W\LD BE PAC+ ON ! TW5TY-FIVE FOOT M>G9S ( ! TRILLI>D TABLE1 /UDY+ ! ANGLES & DELIB]AT+ :ILE ! GRAY MOB ( R\< SLEEP]S LOOK+ ON ALL HELD !IR BREA? =EV]4 ,A N]VE TICK+ AT ONE CORN] ( HIS DAMAG$ EYE1 HE'D GR9D ! CUBE ( *ALK ) TOO MU* =CE AGA9/ HIS CUE1 GAZE FIX$ UNWAV]+LY ON ! (F-:ITE GLOBE ?AT HUNG 9 P]IL AT ! DEA?'S-HEAD CORN]1 TEET]+ UPON ! BLACK BR9K ( ! POCKET'S DROP4 ,?IS1 ( C\RSE1 WAS ! (F-:ITE GLOBE :I* REPRES5T$ ,MI*AEL'S S\L4 

,!RE WAS A SUDD5 LUR* ?AT 9T]RUPT$ ,MI*AEL'S REV]IE1 ALMO/ DISLODG+ HIM FROM HIS P]* ON ! CREATURE'S BACK & CAUS+ HIM TO CLUT* TI<T AT ! RU/Y FUR4 ,BILL CLAPP$ HIS FEET AGA9/ ! MATT$ FLANKS & SWUNG HIS POLE SO ?AT ! /R+ ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS HUNG A TEMPT+ 9* OR TWO AHEAD ( ,MAMMY'S UNCURL$ WOOLLY CAT]PILL> TRUNK4 ,! G+] MAMMO?-JOCKEY CALL$ \T 9TO ! /UP5D\S E*O-*AMB] ( ,MANS\L4 

0,HIYO ,MAMMY6 ,AWAAAAAAY60 

,& !Y W]E (F4 ,BRAY+ MAGNIFIC5TLY ?R\< H] SWAY+1 RAIS$ PROBOSCIS1 ! APP>5TLY SWEET-NATUR$ ,PALEOLI?IC ?R[BACK BROKE 9TO A TROT1 & !N A CANT]1 !N A GALLOP4 ,ITS HAIRY UMBRELLA-/& FEET P\ND$ ON ! SACR$ PAV+1 CRUN*+ ?R\< ! GOLD SCABS /ILL REMA9+ FROM ! BUILD]S' FRACAS1 FRACTUR+ ! H>D5$ PUDDLES' BULLION %E5 9TO A F9E WEB ( C]AMIC CRACKS 9 PASS+4 ,ALL ! COLOR$-CO/UME PHANTOMS & ! SEMI-NAK$ SLEEP]S GA!R$ 9 ! A/RAL ,MAYORHOLD *E]$ & WAV$ !IR CAPS OR BONNETS4 ,FROM ! TI]$ V]&AS UP ABOVE A MULTITUDE ( DREAMS & <O/S YELL$ !IR 5C\RAGEM5T4 ,! %AV5-HEAD$ GIANT 9 ,R\NDHEAD UNI=M ?AT ,MI*AEL HAD BE5 TOLD WAS CALL$ ,?OMPSON ! ,LEVEL] ?UMP$ RHY?MICALLY & JUBILANTLY ON ! H&RAIL AS HE WAT*$1 & ! E!REALLY H&SOME BLACK-SK9N$ C[BOY !Y'D SE5 E>LI] FIR$ HIS SIX-GUNS 9 ! AIR 9 CELEBRATION4 

,! GANG & !IR WONDR\S M\NT RUMBL$ UP AN UNFOLD$ HI<] SURROGATE ( ,SILV] ,/REET1 ONE ( ! EI<T >*AIC LANES CONV]G+ !RE 9 ! ORIG9AL T[N SQU>E4 ,S9CE ,MANS\L WAS BUILT \T ( NO?+ MORE ?AN DREAMS & POETRY & /RAY ASSOCIATIONS1 ! CONSID]ABLY WID5$ /REET WAS MADE :OLLY FROM SILV]4 ,:AT WAS NO MORE ?AN A N>R[ LANE D[N 9 ! MORTAL REALM WAS H]E A POLI%$ SWA! ( SILV] COBBLES1 ) A FI%-EYE M9IATURE ( ,MAMMY & H] <O/-*ILD C>GO SWIMM+ 9 ! BULGE ( EV]Y >G5T /ONE AS !Y /AMP$$ BY1 SPLA%+ ?R\< POOLS ( SUP]-RA9 LEFT BY ! REC5T D[NP\R1 S5D+ SPRAYS ( COMPLICAT$ DROPLETS B\NC+ 9 ! HALLM>K$ GUTT]S4 ,FROM MOON-METAL L&+S OV]LOOK+ ! EXALT$ ?OR\<F>E1 ,SILV] ,/REET'S <O/LY OCCUPANTS ( SEV]AL DIFF]5T C5TURIES W]E :OOP+ & APPLAUD+ AS ! FAM\S ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG RODE PA/ ON !IR PET MAMMO?4 

,!RE W]E BEAUTIFULLY PA9T$ NANCY BOYS FROM ! PUBLIC CONV5I5CE AT ! LANE'S BOTTOM 5D1 A MAGNIFI$ ,MANS\L 5HANCEM5T ) ITS FIFTY-FOOT-LONG TR\< & 5DLESS R[ ( CUBICLES ALL FA%ION$ FROM :ITE M>BLE4 ,DRESS$ 9 FL\NCY1 NE>-FLUORESC5T \TFITS ?AT !Y W\LD HAVE NEV] D>$ TO WE> :ILE !Y W]E /ILL ALIVE1 ! PRETTY SISSIES COO$ & %RILL$ LIKE BIRDS ( P>ADISE1 & ONE CALL$ \T 0,WE LOVE Y\1 ,M>JORIE01 BR&I%+ A GRE5-&-GOLD JACKET$ BOOK AS ,MAMMY PASS$ B5EA? !M4 ,!RE W]E ,RABBIS FROM ! VANI%$ SYNAGOGUE UP AT ! TOP 5D ( ! PASSAGE1 :]E ! L(TY-W9D[$ CUBE ( BRICK ?AT WAS ! ,FI% ,M>KET /OOD1 D[N 9 ! MAT]IAL WORLD4 ,! ,HEBREW CL]ICS CLAPP$ POLITELY & SEEM$ TO BE NODD+ 9 AGREEM5T1 AL?\< ,MI*AEL DIDN'T KN[ :AT )4 ,BALCONY AFT] BALCONY ( <O/LY SILV]SMI?S1 /REETWALK]S1 PUBLICANS1 JUDO 9/RUCTORS1 PAWNBROK]S1 RESPL5D5T PAUP]S & ANTIQUE POLICEM5 HAD TURN$ \T1 IT SEEM$1 TO WAT* ! TEMPOR>ILY DEAD 9FANT TAK5 BACK TO LIFE4 ,MI*AEL CLUNG TI<T TO ,MAMMY'S F9E1 LUXURIANT PELT & FELT A BIT 9TIMIDAT$ BY ALL ! ATT5TION4 ,HE'D HAD NO IDEA HE WAS SO FAM\S4 ,HE TRI$ TO %R9K FUR!R D[N 9TO ! MU/Y FUR1 BUT F\ND ?AT AS UPON ?OSE BITT] W9T] NI<TS :5 HE'D TRI$ SLEEP+ RI<T D[N UND]NEA? ! B$CLO!S1 IT WAS H>D TO BREA!4 

0444 ?IS LADY'S LITTLE BOY4 ',E'S GOT A SWEET LODG$ 9 'IS ?ROAT 4440 

0 ',E 5T BREA!D4 ',E 5T BREA!D ALL ?IS TIME60 

0,OH1 MY GOODNESS4 ,GIVE HIM H]E1 DE>4 ,NURSE1 CAN Y\ FET* ,DR4 ,=BES1 PLEASE1 & TELL HIM TO HURRY80 

,\T FROM ! OLD METALWORK]'S LANE !IR ,PLEI/OC5E ,EXPRESS BANK$ TO ! RI<T1 9TO A YAWN+ PLAZA ?AT WAS V]Y LIKE ! L[] 5D ( ,%EEP ,/REET1 ONLY MASSIVELY 9FLAT$4 ,MAMMY BLA/$ \T A NASAL FANF>E AS %E /ORM$ PA/ ! OLD1 /ATELY-LOOK+ BUILD+ ?AT WAS OPPOSITE ! M\? ( ,SILV] ,/REET1 :I*1 AL?\< MU* EXP&$1 ,MI*AEL RECOGNIZ$ AS ! ACADEMY HE'D SE5 9 ,MR4 ,DODDRIDGE'S ,DELFT TILES4 ,UPON ITS SO>+ T]RACES ! Y\NG & FI]Y S*OL>S W]E APPLAUD+1 %\T+ !IR APPROVAL 9 ,GREEK1 ,LAT91 ,FR5* & ,HEBREW AS !Y CELEBRAT$ & LIT BOTTLE-ROCKETS4 ,ON ! L[] LEVELS ( ! GLORI\S $IFICE A HUNDR$ ?\S& C&LES HAD BE5 PATI5TLY >RANG$ TO SPELL \T ,K,+ ,G,E,O,R,G,E - ,N,O ,P,R,E,T,5,D,] 9 MASS$ *OIRS ( PRIMROSE FLAME4 ,! SKY ABOVE WAS GRAD+ 9TO VIOLET :]E ! /UD5TS' FIREWORKS BANG$ OR TWITT]$ & /REW$ COLOR$ SP>KS 9 GREAT HOT H&FULS D[N UPON ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG'S P>ADE4 

,P]*$ BEH9D ,MI*AEL AS !Y AVALAN*$ D[N ! TITANIC PHANTASM ( ,%EEP ,/REET1 ,PHYLLIS %\T$ 9 HIS E> OV] ! RACKET ( ! PYROTE*NICS & ! CON/ANT DRUM-ROLL ( !IR *>G]'S FOOTFALLS4 

0 ',]E1 ,I JU/ ?\<T4 ,ASK AYR ,BILL '[ 'IM & ,REGGIE GOT ?IS BLOODY GREAT ?+ UP ']E TO ,MANS\L4 ,I MEAN1 IT'S '>D 5\< = PEOPLE TO CLIMB UP A ,JACOB ,FLI<T1 SO '[ DID !Y GET ,MAMMY TO GOO UP A LADD]80 

,MI*AEL DUTIFULLY PASS$ ?IS ON TO ,M>JORIE1 9 FRONT ( HIM1 :O CONVEY$ IT TO ,REGGIE SITT+ JU/ 9 FRONT ( H]4 ,REGGIE SAID SOME?+ BACK TO ,M>JORIE & !Y BO? SNICK]$ BE=E ,M>JORIE TURN$ R\ND & HISS$ CONSPIRATORIALLY AT ,MI*AEL4 

0,!Y PU%$ ,MAMMY UP/AIRS ?R\< ! BOTTOM ( \R HIDE\T UP NE> ,L[] ,H>D+ ,/REET4 ,APP>5TLY IT WRECK$ ! D51 SO !RE'S ONLY A MAMMO?-SIZ$ HOLE :]E IT US$ TO BE4 ,IF Y\ TELL ,PHYLLIS1 %E'LL GO SP>E4 ,JU/ SAY ?AT ,REGGIE CAN'T %\T L\D 5\< = ,BILL TO HE> HIM OV] ALL ?IS NOISE4 ,TELL H] %E'LL HAVE TO ASK HIM LAT]40 

,MI*AEL HALT+LY REPEAT$ ?IS :ITE LIE TO ,PHYLLIS1 :O N>R[$ H] EYES SUSPICI\SLY BUT SEEM$ PREP>$ TO LET ! MATT] RE/ !RE = ! MOM5T4 ,ON !Y W5T D[N ,%EEP ,/REET1 HEAD+ = ! ,M>KET ,SQU>E & ,DRAP]Y4 ,>\ND !IR PET GIANT'S TREE-TRUNK LEGS1 ! TODDL] NOTIC$ ?AT !RE SLOPP$ A :ITE TIDE MADE ( %EEP1 ALL CLATT]+ & BLEAT+ IDIOTICALLY AS !Y TRI$ TO GET \T ( ! RAMPAG+ BRUTE'S WAY4 ,HE ASSUM$ ?AT !SE MU/ JU/ BE P>T ( ,%EEP ,/REET'S POETRY1 LIKE ALL ! SILV] LAMPPO/S1 DRA9S & PAV+ /ONES ?AT ,MAMMY HAD JU/ PASS$ 9 ,SILV] ,/REET4 ,HE HOP$ ?AT !Y W\LD NOT BE GO+ ANY:]E NE> ,AMBU% ,/REET1 OR ,GAS ,/REET = ?AT MATT]4 

,!Y PASS$ BY AN 5L>G$ ,FI% ,M>KET UPON !IR RI<T1 ! GLASS-RO($ /RUCTURE SOMEH[ FUZ$ 9TO ONE BUILD+ ) ! SYNAGOGUE & ,R$ ,LION TAV]N ?AT HAD PREVI\SLY OCCUPI$ ! SITE4 ,*APS ) LONG R+LETS SPILL+ FROM B5EA? !IR SKULLCAPS S]V$ D>K BE] ACROSS FI%MONG]S' SLABS ?AT W]E SEQU9$ ) SCALES & WET ) HI<LI<T4 ,M5 9 DAZZL+ :ITE COATS & HATS :O WORE CLEAV]S OR KNIVES LIKE JEWELRY W]E REPEAT+ ,JEWI% PRAY]S :ILE FILLET+ ! CUTS ( CREAM OR P9K OR VIVID HADDOCK-YELL[ ?AT W]E SPREAD UPON A V>NI%$ PUBLIC B>-TOP4 ,EV]YONE LOOK$ UP & SMIL$ OR RAIS$ !IR FOAM+ TANK>DS AS ! <O/-GANG W5T GALUMPH+ BY4 

,PEOPLE W]E EV]Y:]E AS !Y CONT9U$ ONW>D D[N A HUGE DREAM ( ! ,DRAP]Y1 :]E T[]+ H\SES MADE ( LEA!R HAD BE5 CUT 9TO FANTA/IC %APES ON EA* SIDE ( ! SLOP+ /REET4 ,PALATIAL MANSIONS 9 ! =M ( BOOTS OR %OES LOOM$ OV] !M1 & DIZZY P9NACLES LIKE LADIES' EV5+ GLOVES4 ,ADNITT'S DEP>TM5T /ORE WAS A TREM5D\S CORSET ) A MULTITUDE ( JUBILANT SPECTATORS SITT+ ON ! /IT*+ ( ! UPP] LEVELS AS !Y CRI$ \T !IR SUPPORT OR ADULATION4 ,!RE W]E L[] RANK+ BUILD]S 9 GRAY G[NS ?AT W]E /ILL PREGNANT ) ALL SORTS ( O!R COLORS1 LIKE A RA9-CL\D4 ,!RE W]E <O/S 9 P>TY CLO?+ :O ?REW /REAM]S2 %ABBY POLT]GEI/S :O JU/ GAVE A ?UMBS-UP & GR9N$4 ,! WOM51 M5 & *ILDR5 ( ! HI<] T[N%IP L9$ ITS /REETS 9 AN UPRO>I\S ?RONG1 ACCOMPANI$ BY PHANTOM DOGS & SMOKY SPECTRAL CATS1 BY <O/LY BUDG]IG>S FRE$ FROM !IR MORTAL CAGES & ! BRILLIANT S\LS ( GOLDFI%1 )\T !IR CONF9+ B[LS OR WAT]1 ?AT JU/ %IMM]$ ?R\< ! AIR1 />+ & M\?+ SIL5TLY1 OCCASIONALLY RELEAS+ A SMALL BUBBLE TO DRIFT UPW>D LIKE A WEI<TLESS PE>L4 

,SOME ( ! CR[D HELD BANN]S :ILE SOME C>RI$ PLAC>DS BE>+ GOODWILL MESSAGES OR SIMPLY NAM+ FAVORITE MEMB]S ( ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG4 ,PO/HUM\S TE5AGE GIRLS SQUEAL$ & HELD SIGNS UP ?AT SAID M]ELY ',JOHN'1 BUT ALL SIX *ILDR5 SEEM$ TO HAVE !IR FOLL[]S4 ,MI*AEL WAS SLI<TLY MIFF$ TO REALIZE ?AT ! MAJORITY ( FLAGS & WAV+ NOTICES SAID 0,M>JORIE01 AL?\< IT LOOK$ AS ?\< HE WAS ! NEXT MO/ POPUL>1 :I* P]K$ HIM UP A BIT4 

,EM]G+ FROM ! BOTTOM ( ! ,DRAP]Y !Y ROCKET$ >\ND A V]SION ( ,ALL ,SA9TS ,*UR* ?AT LOOK$ BIGG] ?AN ! ,T[] ( ,BABEL4 ,9 ! HI<] WORLD ?IS /ILL HAD ITS GREAT PORTICO SUPPORT$ BY ?ICK COLUMNS1 BUT UP H]E !RE W]E AT LEA/ EI<T MON/R\S PORTICOS /ACK$ ONE ATOP ! O!R1 PIL+ UP 9TO A MANY-LAY]$ MONOLI? ( BR[N & YELL[ LIME/ONE ?AT LOOK$ LIKE OLD GOLD AGA9/ ! %IFT+ BLUES & PURPLES ( ! SKY4 ,GA!R$ BEL[ ! HI<E/ PORTICOS W]E HUNDR$S ( ONLOOK]S & WELL-WI%]S1 :I/L+ & /AMP+ AS ! PREVI\SLY-EXT9CT ANIMAL RODE BY1 :ILE UND]NEA? ! BROAD SWEEP ( ! L[E/ CANOPY /OOD ONLY A FEW PRIVILEG$ SPOOKS AS IF ?IS >EA W]E RES]V$ = SPECIAL GUE/S1 CELEBRITIES OR ROYALTY4 ,BEH9D HIM1 ,PHYLLIS DIPP$ H] HEAD TO :ISP] 9TO ,MI*AEL'S E>4 

0,?AT !RE'S ,JOHN ,BUNYAN1 & ! OLD BOY SITT9' 9 ! ALCOVE1 ?AT'S ,JOHN ,CL>E4 ,!RE'S ,?OMAS ,BECKET1 ,SAMUEL ,BECKETT & ,I ?9K ! FELL] ON ! 5D !RE IS ,JOHN ,BAILES1 ! BUTTON-MAK] :O LIV$ UNTIL HE WAS GETT+ ON 'UNDR$ & ?IRTY4 ,SA9TS & WRIT]S1 = ! MO/ P>T4 ,LOOK1 !Y'RE WAV9' TO Y]4 ,:Y DON'T Y\ WAVE BACK80 

,SO HE WAV$ BACK4 ,AS !Y SW]V$ 9TO ,GEORGE ,R[1 AN APPRECIATIVE AUDI5CE UP ON ! SILLS & L$GES ( A SWOLL5 ALABA/] LAW C\RT ?REW D[N LAUREL WREA?S OR FLOPPY G>L&S ( IMAG9>Y FL[]S1 SOME ( :I* CAU<T ON ,MAMMY'S FRI<T5+ TUSKS TO SW+ & RU/LE DECORATIVELY 9 ! CRY/AL-CLE>1 9VIGORAT+ ,UP/AIRS AIR4 ,RI<T AT ?IS 9/ANT1 ,MI*AEL KNEW1 ! :ITE-HAIR$ ,MA/] ,BUILD] W\LD BE CR\*+ TO HIS CRUCIAL %OT1 BE SI<T+ D[N ! GL>+ %AFT ( LI<T ?AT WAS HIS CUE1 CLOS+ HIS BLACK5$ EYE & DRAW+ BACK HIS ELB[4 ,!RE WAS EV]Y?+ TO PLAY =4 

,PETALS FELL UPON !M FROM ABOVE1 & TICK]-TAPE1 & EV51 9APPROPRIATELY1 LADIES' PANTS4 ,A SET ( !SE GOT CAU<T ON ,MAMMY'S TUSK BESIDE ! WREA?S & FLORAL TRIBUTES BUT1 S9CE !Y HAD LITTLE DAISIES ON !M1 DIDN'T LOOK 5TIRELY \T ( PLACE4 

,!Y HAMM]$ D[N ,/4 ,GILES ,/REET1 H]E A M9D-B5D+ B\LEV>D1 & ON !IR LEFT ! ,GUILDHALL1 ! ,GILHALDA ( ,MANS\L1 WAS AN IMM5SE & SKYSCRAP+ CONFECTION ( W>M-COLOR$ /ONE1 COMPLETELY OV]GR[N ) /ATUES1 C>V5 TABLEAUX & H]ALDIC CRE/S4 ,IT WAS AS IF AN >*ITECTURE-BOMB HAD GONE (F 9 SL[ MOTION1 ) C\NTLESS HI/ORIC =MS EXPLOD+ \T ( NO?+NESS & 9TO SOLID GRANITE4 ,SA9TS & ,LIONHE>TS & POETS & DEAD QUE5S LOOK$ D[N ON !M ?R\< ! BL9D PEBBLES ( !IR EM]Y-SMOO!D EYES & UP ABOVE IT ALL1 TALL AS A LI<?\SE1 W]E ! SCULPT$ CONT\RS ( ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]1 ,MI<TY ,MIKE1 ! LOCAL *AMPION4 ,9 ONE H& ! GREAT LIK5ESS HELD A %IELD1 & 9 ! O!R ONE HE HELD HIS TRILLI>D CUE4 ,UNFOLD+ FROM HIS BACK W]E W+S ( *ISEL$ GLASS ?AT SPREAD ACROSS ! BETT] P>T ( ! ILLUM9AT$ T[N1 SO ?AT A RIPPL+ AQU>IUM LI<T FELL ON ! C\NTLESS C\PLES :O SEEM$ TO BE GETT+ M>RI$ ON ! ,GUILDHALL'S GREATLY MAGNIFI$ FRONT /EPS4 ,BEAUTIFUL BRIDES 9 VIRG9 :ITE OR IRIDESC5T GRE51 9 %AWLS OR VEILS OR 9TRICATE MANTILLAS ?REW !IR B\QUETS & BLEW KISSES AS ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG1 ! D>L+S ( ! AFT]LIFE1 W5T RO>+ BY4 

,&1 OH1 ! /AMP & %\T ( IT1 ! %[]+ AFFECTION & ! %9E SOAK$ 9TO ALL ( !M1 5FLAM$ !M1 & WAS BETT] ?AN A HUNDR$ ,PUCK'S ,HATS4 ,!Y CRA%$ PA/ A MU*-5NOBL$ ,BLACK ,LION1 NOT ! PUB 9 ,M>EFAIR ?AT !Y'D PASS$ ?R\< ON !IR ,CROMWELL CAP]S BUT ! O!R ONE1 ! ONE ) ALL ! <O/S4 ,!SE LEAN$ \T ( ! A/RAL TAV]N'S GREAT 9CREASE ( UPP] W9D[S1 CRANK+ WOOD5 RATTLES & RELEAS+ HALF-A-DOZ5 DIFF]5T COLORS ( BALLOON1 EA* ) ONE ( ! *ILDR5'S FACES /5CIL$ ON IT4 ,! BALLOONS SAIL$ UP 9TO ! OPAL P]MUTATIONS ( A PE]LESS ,MANS\L SKY1 & ,MI*AEL NOTIC$ ) SOME SATISFACTION ?AT ! ONES :I* HAD HIS FEATURES ON W]E P[D]-BLUE4 

,! ,BLACK ,LION WRAI?S :O'D LAUN*$ ! BRI<T1 BOBB+ FLOTILLA HEAV5W>DS1 FAM\S HAUNTS :O W]E D\BLY IMMORTAL ?ANKS TO ! ATT5TION !Y'D RECEIV$ FROM ALL ! PSY*IC SLEU?S & ! POT-BOIL+ <O/ HUNT]S1 W]E BY & L>GE A MORE OLD-FA%ION$ & TRADITIONAL V>IETY ( APP>ITION1 MORE ! K9D ( SPOOKS Y\ READ AB\T 9 /ORIES4 ,SOME HAD TRAIL+ *A9S & SOME C>RI$ !IR HEADS B5EA? !IR >MS LIKE FOOTBALL]S BE=E ! KICK(F4 ,SOME HAD TORN !IR G>M5TS OP5 TO REVEAL B>E RIBS ?AT CAG$ A SC>LET PUMP+ HE>T :ILE O!RS1 PHANTOMS ( ! OLD S*OOL1 W]5'T MU* MORE ?AN %EETS & BREEZES4 ,!Y ALL :OOP$ & :I/L$1 HURL+ D[N PSY*IC PH5OM5A UPON ! PASS+ *ILDR5 AS A TRIBUTE1 SEANCE DRUMS & TRUMPETS1 L5G?S ( SLIMY MUSL91 DISEMBODI$ PO9T+ H&S CASCAD+ D[N ONTO ! BURNI%$ COBBLES :]E ACCUS+ BLOOD/A9S BLOOM$ MY/]I\SLY1 9DELIBLY1 >\ND ! MAMMO?'S PADD$ TRUNDLE4 

,! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG SURG$ ALONG ,/4 ,GILES ,/REET UPON !IR ONE-HORSE CAVALCADE & ,MI*AEL TRI$ H>D TO BURN EV]Y DETAIL 9TO HIS BLUE EYES4 ,HE KNEW ?AT HE MU/ NOT =GET ?IS1 EV]4 ,HE MU/ HOLD !SE /REETS ( GLORY FA/ )9 HIMSELF1 !SE HORDES ( RO>+ CELEBRANTS1 & KN[ ?AT 9 ,MANS\L HE WAS IMPORTANT4 ,9 HIS M9D'S EYE HE C\LD SEE ! ,MA/] ,BUILD]S 9 !IR MONUM5TAL TRILLI>D HALL1 ! :ITE-HAIR$ *AMPION CR\*$ OV] ! BAIZE SLID+ HIS LUM9\S CUE BACK & =? 9 HALT+ PRACTICE-JABS UPON ! BRIDGE ( HIS SPREAD F+]S4 ,! SMOO? LACQU]$ ROD1 SWEAT-LUBRICAT$1 SLIPP$ AGA9/ ! WEB ( CU%ION+ FLE% BETWE5 ! ALMO/-DIAMETRICALLY OPPOS+ =EF+] & ?UMB4 ,ALL ! POT5TIAL =CE & 5]GY WAS TRAPP$1 WAS HELD 9SIDE ! HESITAT+ CUE & FOCUS$ ON ! BLUE-HOT TIP ( IT1 ?RUMM+ & SIMM]+1 WAIT+ TO BUR/ \T4 

,LIFT+ H] TRUNK TO S\ND A CL>ION1 ,MAMMY C>RI$ !M ALONG ! GREAT /RET* ( ! ,/4 ,GILES ,/REET C>RIAGEWAY TO :]E IT BLURR$ 9TO ,SP5C] ,P>ADE \TSIDE ! HONEY-COLOR$ /ONE SPECTACLE ( ,/4 ,GILES ,*UR*4 ,?IS BUILD+1 MON/R\SLY 9CREAS$1 N[ HAD ! UPP] REA*ES ( ITS CA/ELLAT$ /EEPLE LO/ AMONG ! BEAUTIFULLY MODEL$ CL\DS ?AT PASS$ BY OV]HEAD3 A SEAHORSE & A BIR?DAY CAKE2 A MAP ( ,ITALY2 A BU/ ( ,QUE5 ,VICTORIA4 ,A SIZABLE /ONE BADGE OR EMBLEM WAS RAIS$ FROM ! T[]'S L[] REA*ES1 FI%-%AP$1 ) A WOMAN'S FIGURE AT ITS C5T] & ! WORDS 0,F,E,$ ,L,A,M,B,S04 ,! GRAVEY>D GRASS >\ND ! HYP]-*UR* HAD BECOME A ,SAVANNAH FROM :I* SO>+ OBELISKS & HEAD/ONES ROSE 9 CLIFFS ( 9SCRIB$ M>BLE1 & ATOP ! TALLE/ MONUM5T DANC$ SOMEBODY ?AT ,PHYLLIS1 :ISP]+ TO ,MI*AEL FROM BEH9D HIM1 SAID WAS ,ROB]T ,BR[NE :O'D />T$ ! ,DISS5T+ MOVEM5T 9 ! FIFTE5-HUNDR$S & :O'D P]I%$ 9 ,NOR?AMPTON ,JAIL1 AN EI<TY-YE>-OLD MAN :O C\LDN'T PAY HIS P>I% RATES4 ,FIZZ+ >\ND ,BR[NE'S SPIRIT 9 ! AIR WAS A CORONA ( BANN$ S]MONS1 BLAZ+ WORDS & EXCOMMUNICATIONS1 :ILE ! JIGG+ FIGURE CAP]$ AS IF OV]JOY$ TO BE 9 ?IS DISS5T+ HEAV51 A SPECTATOR TO ?IS SPL5DID PAGEANT4 ,EV]YONE EXALT$ AS ! PHANTOM KIDS URG$ !IR <O/-MAMMO? ON T[>DS ! CROSSWAYS ( ,YORK ,ROAD & ,BILL+ ,ROAD1 T[>DS ! A%L>-FRONT$ COLISEUM ( ! ,MANS\L ,G5]AL ,HOSPITAL ?AT SWELL$ UP ) ITS BAYS & >*ES1 /ORY AFT] /ORY1 9TO ! E!REAL HAZE :I* HUNG ABOVE ! T[N4 

,!Y SW]V$ OV] ! CROSSROADS1 ) ! C>NIVAL ( ,MANS\L'S TRAFFIC BACK$ UP AT ! JUNCTION'S O!R OP5+S 9 ORD] TO LET ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG ?R\<1 A HONK+ JAM ( T>OT-DECORAT$ C>AVANS1 JEWEL$ WAGONS & FE/OON$ PALANQU9S JO9$ 9 JO/L+ OVATION1 ) !IR PASS5G]S & CO/UM$ COA*M5 WAV+ GAUDY P5NANTS OR ?OSE GRE5-&-GOLD5 BOOKS ?AT EV]YBODY SEEM$ TO HAVE A COPY (4 

,ON ! OPPOSITE CORN] ( ! 9T]SECTION LOOM$ A BU/ ( ,GEORGE ! ,F\R?1 BIG AS A ,RU%MORE HEAD1 ! MON>*'S SLI<TLY-BAFFL$ FR[N APP>5TLY FIX$ ON ! BUN* ( SCRUFFS RAC+ T[>DS HIM FROM ! M\? ( ,SP5C] ,P>ADE1 B>EBACK ON !IR WOOLLY MAMMO?4 ,HI< ON ! BALD M>BLE PLATEAU ( ,K+ ,GEORGE'S SKULL /OOD ?REE PEOPLE :OM ,MI*AEL RECOGNIZ$ AS ,DR4 ,PHILIP ,DODDRIDGE1 HIS WIFE ,M]CY & !IR GR[N-UP DAU<T] ,TETSY :O HAD DI$ DAYS %ORT ( H] FIF? BIR?DAY4 ,ALL ( !M W]E BEAM+ D[N AT ! SIX *ILDR5 & !IR ,/ONE-,AGE TRANSPORT1 FLUTT]+ !IR FRE%LY-LAUND]$ H&K]*IEFS4 ,/&+ BESIDE ! FAMILY ON ! ,K+'S HEAD WAS A F\R? P]SON1 DROLL & RAKI% 9 HIS GAIT1 :OM ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ WAS FAMILI> FROM ! MOV+ SC5ES ?AT TIL$ ! ,DODDRIDGE HE>?4 ,IT WAS ! NE']-DO-WELL ,JOHN ,/ONH\SE1 :O HAD BE5 CONV]T$ :5 HE HE>D ! REV]5D DOCTOR SPEAK & GONE ON TO BECOME HIS CLOSE/ FRI5D1 CO-F\ND] ) HIM ( ! FIR/ 9FIRM>Y TO BE BUILT \TSIDE ,LONDON1 9 ,GEORGE ,R[4 ,HAV+ MADE ?AT CONNECTION1 ,MI*AEL UND]/OOD :AT ,/ONH\SE & ! ,DODDRIDGES W]E DO+ H]E3 ?IS HOSPITAL1 ! OLD 9FIRM>Y'S SECOND & MORE CAPACI\S SITE1 W\LD NOT EXI/ IF IT W]E NOT = ! TWO M5 :O /OOD ABOVE HIM N[4 ,DODDRIDGE HIMSELF WAS CALL+ D[N EXCIT$LY 9 ! DIRECTION ( ! GANG AS ,MAMMY LOP$ >\ND ! GIANT REGAL CRANIUM & ?R\< AN >* ( CA!DRAL PROPORTIONS1 JU/ BEL[ ! DOCTOR ON HIS LEFT4 

0,WIZN'T ?IS GR&8 ,EV]YONE'S READ Y\R MA/]PIECE1 ,MISS ,DRISCOLL4 ,?AT'S :Y Y\'VE GOT SU* A CR[D TURN$ \T TO SEE Y\4 ,!Y ALL WANT TO BE 9 ! LA/ SC5E ( *APT] TWELVE6 ,GOD SPE$ Y\1 ,MI*AEL ,W>R51 ON Y\R WILD RIDE BACK TO LIFE6 ,GOD SPE$ Y\ ALL60 

,!Y RATTL$ ?R\< ! >*WAY & 9TO AN 5DLESS AUDITORIUM ?AT ,MI*AEL ?\<T LOOK$ V]Y LIKE ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA? HAD :5 HE FIR/ >RIV$ ,UP/AIRS1 EXCEPT ?AT ?IS WAS FLOOR$ ) GLEAM+ TILES 9/EAD ( PLANKS & HAD ! R++ S\ND ( A COLOSSAL PUBLIC LAVATORY OR SWIMM+ BA?S4 ,/ILL A BIT PUZZL$ BY ! REV]5D ,DR4 ,DODDRIDGE'S REM>KS1 ,MI*AEL NUDG$ ,M>JORIE :O SAT 9 FRONT ( HIM & ASK$ H] :O ,MISS ,DRISCOLL WAS4 ,%E *ORTL$ & SAID 0,I AM01 :I* LEFT HIM NOT MU* ! WIS]4 ,9 ! SUSURRUS & E*O ( ! CAV]N\S 9FIRM>Y HE HE>D A MILLION ANXI\S VOICES :ISP]+4 

0,N[ !N1 :AT'S GO+ ON80 

0,?IS LITTLE BOY IS *OK+1 DOCTOR4 ,!Y'VE JU/ 4440 

0,IT'S A C\<-SWEET :AT 'E'S *OK$ ON4 ',E'S NOT BREA!D ?IS 'OLE TIME4 ,IS 'E DEAD80 

0,ALL RI<T1 CALM D[N4 ,LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT HIM 4440 

,MI*AEL WAS JOGGL+ ALL OV] ,MAMMY'S HUMP1 HOLD+ ON TI<T AS %E EXP]I5C$ DIFFICULTY ) ! MASSIVELY-SCAL$ HALL'S TIL$ FLOOR1 SLI!R+ ON ITS POLI%$ %E51 ! MAMMO?'S 9V]T$ REFLECTION /RUGGL+ TO KEEP UP ) H] AS %E TOBOGGAN$ ON ! SLIPP]Y PORCELA94 ,>\ND !M1 JU/ AS 9 ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?1 W9D[-LIKE V5TS W]E SET 9TO ! FLOOR+1 AN EYE-BOGGL+ GRID ( !M ?AT REA*$ (F TO ! TI]$ WALLS ( ! >CADE ON EI!R SIDE4 ,ABOVE1 ?R\< AN IMM5SE GLASS CANOPY1 ! CRY/AL-FACET WEBS ( L9ES ?AT W]E ! DIAGRAMS ( CL\DS GLID$ & *ANG$ !IR %APES AGA9/ A BACKDROP ( SUBLIME AZURE4 ,HE FELT CONV9C$ ?AT ?IS WAS JU/ ! SECTION ( ! ,ATTICS ?AT WAS UP ABOVE ! HOSPITAL1 ITS FIELD ( TRAPDOORS OP5+ D[N ON E>?LY W>DS & OP]AT+ ROOMS BEL[4 ,AS !IR M\NT W5T 9TO A TRUMPET+ & BL>+ SKID ?AT IT C\LD NOT >RE/1 ,MI*AEL FELT A %>P %OCK REV]B]AT+ ?R\< HIM & KNEW ?AT D[N AT ! TRILLI>D-HALL ! ,MA/] ,BUILD] HAD TAK5 HIS %OT4 ,! T9Y BLUE FI/ ( ! CUE'S TIP HAD JU/ PUN*$ ! NECESS>Y BALL SO ?AT IT RACKET$ ACROSS ! CR[D$ TABLE ) A PE>L NECKLACE ( AFT]-IMAGES TRAIL+ BEH9D IT4 ,HE C\LD ALMO/ FEEL ITS SP9 & ROLL 9 ,MAMMY'S UNCONTROLL$ TRAJECTORY ACROSS ! GLI/5+ FLOOR4 ,HE WAS 9 PLAY1 & !RE WAS NO?+ HE C\LD DO AB\T IT4 

,F9ALLY !IR C>OM REA*$ A HALT1 ONLY A DOZ5 Y>DS OR SO FROM ONE ( ! L>GE AP]TURES ?AT OP5$ D[N 9TO ! FLOOR 9SIDE A :ITE TIL$ FRAME A LITTLE LIKE ! RAIS$ $GE ( A PADDL+ POOL4 ,A GR\P ( GETT+ ON = FIFTE5 PEOPLE W]E /OOD GA!R$ R\ND ?IS OP5+1 POSSIBLY PREVI\SLY PASS$-ON RELATIVES WAIT+ = SOMEBODY N[ DY+ 9 ! E>?LY HOSPITAL D[N/AIRS4 ,!Y LOOK$ UP 9 AL>M AS ,MAMMY SKITT]$ TO A /OP ) H] HALF-DOZ5 UR*9 RID]S TOPPL+ FROM H] BACK1 ALL GIGGL+1 D[N TO ! TREA*]\S GLAZE4 ,MI*AEL C\LD UND]/& ! WORRI$ GLANCES FROM ?IS AFT]LIFE RECEPTION-CR[D :5 HE CONSID]$ ?AT IF !IR PRIMORDIAL /E$ HAD GONE ONLY A LITTLE FUR!R1 !N !SE PEOPLE'S DY+ LOV$ ONES W\LD F9D !MSELVES TRY+ TO GET 9TO HEAV5 :ILE A HAIRY ELEPHANT PLUNG$ D[N ! O!R WAY4 ,NOBODY WANT$ ?AT4 

,/RUGGL+ TO !IR FEET & HELP+ !IR PET MAMMO? DO ! SAME1 ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG SET AB\T SE>*+ D[N ! R[S ( TILE-RIMM$ FLOOR-DOORS AS !Y TRI$ TO F9D ! PLACE & TIME ?AT ,MI*AEL'S LIFELESS BODY HAD BE5 BR\<T TO4 ,EV]Y:]E 9 ! UN5D+ E*O-*AMB] ( ! HYP]-HOSPITAL !RE WAS A SC5T ( PURITY & FRE%NESS1 :I* AFT] SOME SEV]AL M9UTES ,MI*AEL REALIZ$ WAS ! SMELL ( ORD9>Y PONGY DIS9FECTANT ?AT HAD BE5 UNWRAPP$ 9TO A NEW DIM5SION4 ,FROM HORIZON TO HORIZON ( ?IS GREAT 9DOORS AN ALMO/ *UR*-LIKE REV]5TIAL HU% HUNG OV] EV]Y?+1 & 9 ! DI/ANCE HE C\LD SEE ,CRIMEAN NURSES 9 !IR BONNETS & BLACK SKIRTS CONF]R+ ) /AFF ( MORE REC5T V9TAGE :O WORE P]KY :ITE CAPS & BLUE NYLONS4 ,!RE W]E VISITORS AS WELL1 :O'D COME TO WELCOME UP EXPIR+ FRI5DS & FAMILY1 SOMETIMES 9 ?IRTY-/RONG COMMITTEES OR SOMETIMES ALONE1 & ,MI*AEL EV5 SAW A DEA?MONG] OR TWO BU/L+ D[N ! ET]NAL AISLES UPON !IR MORTAL MISSIONS4 ,& D[N AT ! TRILLI>D P>LOR HE C\LD FEEL ! CUE-BALL HURTL+ AT BREAKNECK SPE$ T[>DS ! IVORY GLOBE ?AT REPRES5T$ HIM1 BALANC$ UPON ! DEA?'S-HEAD POCKET'S RIM4 ,! GASP ( ! R\< SLEEP]S AS !Y /OOD TRANSFIX$ & WAT*$ ! GAME M]G$ ) ! CON/ANT MURMUR ( ! SUP]NAL 9FIRM>Y >\ND HIM4 ,:ISP]1 :ISP]1 :ISP]4 

0444 ,GOD6 ,?IS *ILD'S GOT ! WOR/ CASE ( TONSILLITIS ?AT ,I'VE EV] SE54 ,GIVE ME A TONGUE-DEPRESSOR SO ?AT ,I CAN 4440 

,MI*AEL'S REV]IE WAS 9T]RUPT$ BY A CRY FROM ,REGGIE ,B[L]1 :O HAD TAK5 *>GE ( ,MAMMY & WAS FE$+ ,PUCK'S ,HATS TO ! DOCILE MAMMO? AS HE L$ H] D[N ! WIDE1 TIL$ PA?WAYS ( ! GRID >RANGEM5T4 

0,PHYLL8 ,I RECKON ?AT ?IS ']E'S ! LOBBY1 OV] ']E4 ,?AT MU/ BE :]E !Y BR+ 'IM 91 LIKE4 ,COME & 'AVE A LOOK1 SEE IF ! Y\NG 'UN RECOGNIZES ANYBODY40 

,DUTIFULLY1 EV]YONE TRAIPS$ OV] TO :]E ,REGGIE & !IR %AGGY M\NT W]E /&+1 NEXT TO ONE ( ! GREAT ?IRTY-FOOT LONG OP5+S ?AT W]E SET 9TO ! FLOOR4 ,LEAN+ ACROSS ! RAIS$ TILES ( ! $GE1 ! GANG PE]$ D[N 9TO ! LIV+ WORLD BEL[ :]E MOTIONLESS & COLOR-FILL$ TRANSP>5T CORAL =MS /OOD WOV5 9 A COMPLICAT$ KNOT1 ! :OLE GLASS-ANIMAL >RAY SUSP5D$ 9 A JELLY-CUBE ( TIME4 

,MI*AEL GAZ$ D[N 9TO ! JEWELRY1 ! /RANGLES1 9TO ! TW5TY-FIVE ?\S& NI<TS4 ,! SPACE BEL[ APPE>$ TO BE AB\T ! SAME SIZE AS HIS LIV+ ROOM D[N 9 ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD HAD LOOK$ :5 HE HAD SE5 IT FROM ! ,ATTICS ( ! ,BREA?1 ALL ( ?OSE ,MANS\L WEEKS AGO & GETT+ ON T5 WORLDLY M9UTES BACK4 ,HE GUESS$ ?AT HE WAS LOOK+ AT SOME SORT ( DOCTOR'S (FICE OR A LITTLE SIDE ROOM RUNN+ (F FROM ! HOSPITAL LOBBY4 ,!RE W]E F\R - NO1 FIVE - DI/9CT %APES 9T]TW9+ 9 ! *AMB]'S ASPIC DEP?S1 & ) A SUDD5 RU% ( JOY ! *ILD ID5TIFI$ ONE ( ! ELONGAT$ FIGURES AS HIS MOM1 ,DORE54 ,HE KNEW H] BY ! G5TLE GRE5 GL[ EMANAT+ FROM 9SIDE H]1 NOT A %[Y EM]ALD BUT ! DEEP1 S9C]E GRE5 ?AT Y\ F\ND ON MALL>DS' NECKS4 ,) ,DORE5 9 ! ROOM !RE W]E F\R O!R FROND$ GEM-=MS1 !IR /REAM+ TRAJECTORIES CROSS+ OR 9T]SECT+ ) H] [N1 ELABORATELY4 ,ONE ( ! EXT5D$ SEE-?R\< /ATUES HAD A RI*1 E>?-COLOR$ LI<T )9 IT ?AT MADE ,MI*AEL ?9K1 = NO GOOD REASON1 AB\T NICE ,MR4 ,MC,GE>Y :O LIV$ NEXT DOOR TO !M 9 ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD1 AL?\< HE WASN'T C]TA9 :Y ,MR4 ,MC,GE>Y %\LD BE D[N !RE AT ! HOSPITAL1 /&+ NE> ,MI*AEL'S MOM4 

,! O!R ?REE JEWEL-PATT]NS 9 ! MORTAL ROOM BEL[ W]E ALSO GR\P$ TOGE!R 9 A CLU/]4 ,!RE WAS A CALM BLUE ONE1 LIKE A GAS FLAME1 ?AT ! <O/LY 9FANT ?\<T MI<T BE A DOCTOR1 & A R$DI% GR[? ( CRY/AL ?AT WAS POSSIBLY A NURSE4 ,?IS ROSE-T+$ /RUCTURE HAD TRANSLUC5T FRILLS ( >MS ALONG ITS W9D+ FLANKS1 ! =EMO/ PAIR CLASP+ TOGE!R AT ! TOO?PA/E-SQUEEZ+'S FRONT 5D AS ?\< HOLD+ SOME?+ AT ! LEVEL ( ITS *E/1 :]E A BU/ BULG$ \T FROM ! AB/RACT %APE'S FACADE AS DID A PLUMP MAT]NAL FACE A LITTLE HI<] UP - BO? ( !SE FEATURES SCULPT$ 9 P9K GLASS4 ,! F9AL JEWEL-=M1 SMALL] ?AN ! RE/ & A PALE1 LIFELESS GRAY1 WAS CLASP$ AT ! CONV]G5CE ( ! TRAIL+ LIMB-F9S & HELD UP BE=E ! RUBICUND EXTRAVAGANCE'S BOSOM4 ,MI*AEL COMPREH5D$ ) A />T ?AT ?IS WAS HIM1 ?IS COLORLESS GLASS />FI% AT ! HE>T ( ! DISPLAY4 ,?IS WAS HIS LITTLE HUMAN BODY4 ,! TALL BLUE CON/RUCTION1 CURL$ ABOVE IT LIKE A WAVE1 SEEM$ TO BE POK+ SOME?+ D[N A T9Y HOLE 9 ! TOP 5D ( IT1 ( HIM4 

0444 CAN SEE IT4 ,COME ON \T1 Y\ LITTLE BLI<T]4 ,AA6 ,I ALMO/ HAD IT4 ,LET ME JU/ 4440 

,HIS ?ROAT HURT1 BUT ?AT MI<T HAVE JU/ BE5 BECAUSE HE WAS GO+ TO HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL HIS FRI5DS1 ?AT HOT LUMP ?AT HE SOMETIMES FELT :5 PEOPLE W5T AWAY4 ,HE LEAN$ BACK FROM ! AP]TURE & TURN$ >\ND TO SIT 9/EAD ON ITS RAIS$ B\ND>Y1 KICK+ HIS SLIPP]$ FEET1 ) ! ,DEAD ,DEAD ,GANG & !IR MAMMO? /&+ R\ND & SMIL+ AT HIM FONDLY4 ,WELL1 ! MAMMO? WASN'T SMIL+1 BUT IT WASN'T GL>+ AT HIM OR LOOK+ (F5D$ EI!R4 ,PHYLLIS CR\*$ D[N ON H] HAUN*ES SO ?AT %E WAS AT HIS EYE-LEVEL1 & TOOK HIS H&4 

0,WELL1 !N1 ME DUCK1 IT LOOKS LIKE ?IS WIZ IT4 ,IT'S TIME = Y] TO GOO BACK DAYN :]E Y] BELONG1 BACK 9 Y] [N LIFE WI' Y] MOM & DAD & SI/]4 ,%ALL Y] MISS US80 

,H]E HE />T$ SNUFFL+ A LITTLE BIT1 BUT BLEW HIS NOSE UPON HIS DRESS+ G[N 9/EAD UNTIL HE'D GOT HIMSELF UND] CONTROL4 ,MI*AEL WAS NE>LY F\R1 & DIDN'T WANT ! OLD] DEAD KIDS ?9K+ ?AT HE WAS A BABY4 

0,YES4 ,I'LL MISS ALL ( Y\ V]Y MU*4 ,I WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO EV]YBODY PROP]LY40 

,ONE BY ONE1 ! RE/ ( ! GANG CAME & KNEEL$ OR SQUATT$ BESIDE ,PHYLLIS TO MAKE !IR F>EWELLS4 ,REGGIE ,B[L] WAS ! FIR/1 LIFT+ HIS HAT (F :5 HE CR\*$ AS ?\< HE W]E 9 *UR* OR AT A FUN]AL4 

0,TA-TA1 !N1 LITTLE 'UN4 ,Y\ BE A GOOD BOY ) Y] MOM & DAD1 & IF Y] DAD GOES (F TO PRISON & Y] MOM *UCK'S ']SELF \T ! B$ROOM W9D[1 DON'T GO SLEEP9' 9 A PACK+ CRATE1 NOT :5 IT'S W9T]4 ,?AT'S ! BE/ ADVICE :AT ,I CAN (F]4 ,Y\ TAKE C>E1 N[40 

,REGGIE /RAI<T5$ UP & W5T TO /& BESIDE ! MAMMO?1 :O CONT5T$LY *EW$ ON H] CUD ( ,PUCK'S ,HATS4 ,M>JORIE TOOK ,REGGIE'S PLACE1 KNEEL+ 9 FRONT ( ,MI*AEL ) H] EYES SWIMM+ LIKE TADPOLES 9 ! JAM-J>S ( H] SPECTACLES4 

0,Y\ LOOK AFT] Y\RSELF N[1 WON'T Y\8 ,Y\ LOOK LIKE Y\'LL TURN \T TO BE EV]YBODY'S FAVORITE *>ACT]1 9 :AT SEEMS TO BE EV]YBODY'S FAVORITE *APT]4 ,I SUPPOSE WE'VE SOLV$ ! ,RIDDLE ( ! ,*OK+ ,*ILD1 & SO ?IS IS ! *APT]'S 5D+4 ,DON'T GO GETT+ KNOCK$ D[N BY A C> 9 TWO YE>S' TIME & SPOIL+ IT SO ?AT ,I HAVE TO DO A RE-WRITE4 ,AL?\< :5 Y\ DO DIE ( OLD AGE OR :ATEV] IT WIZ1 & Y\ COME BACK UP H]E1 !N DON'T =GET TO LOOK US UP4 ,WE CAN ALL GET TOGE!R = ! SEQUEL40 

,M>JORIE KISS$ ,MI*AEL ON ONE BURN+ *EEK & W5T TO /& ) ,REGGIE4 ,MI*AEL HADN'T GOT ! FIR/ IDEA :AT ANY ( :AT %E'D JU/ SAID TO HIM HAD MEANT1 BUT FELT IT WAS MEANT K9DLY ALL ! SAME4 ,! NEXT 9 L9E WAS ,BILL4 ,NOT MU* TALL] ?AN ,MI*AEL 9 HIS CURR5T =M1 ! G+]-HAIR$ ROGUE DIDN'T HAVE TO KNEEL OR CR\*1 BUT JU/ REA*$ \T & %OOK ! DRESS+ G[N-CLAD *ILD BY HIS FREE H&1 ! ONE ?AT ,PHYLLIS WASN'T HOLD+4 

0,*E]Y-BYE1 KID4 ,SAY 'ELLO TO ,ALMA = US :5 Y\ SEE ! M5TAL B9T1 & ,I EXPECT ?AT WE'LL MEET UP AGA9 9 =TY YE> OR SO1 D[N/AIRS1 :5 WE DON'T RECOGNIZE EA* O!R4 ,Y\'VE GOT BOTTLE1 MATE4 ,IT'S BE5 GOOD KN[+ Y]40 

,BIG ,JOHN CAME AFT] ,BILL1 SO TALL HE HAD TO GROVEL TO LOOK ,MI*AEL 9 ! EYE1 BUT GR9N+ 9 A MANN] ?AT SUGGE/$ ?AT HE DIDN'T REALLY M9D4 

0,GOODBYE = N[1 !N1 NIPP]4 ,Y\ GIVE Y\R DAD1 Y\R NAAN & ALL Y\R UNCLES & Y\R AUNTS MY LOVE4 ,& Y\ CAN TELL ME ONE LA/ ?+3 DID Y\R DAD ,TOMMY EV] TALK AB\T HIS BRO!R ,JACK AT ALL80 

,?\< PUZZL$ BY ! REF]5CE1 ,MI*AEL NODD$4 

0,HE'S ! ONE :AT GOT KILL$ 9 ! W>1 ,I ?9K4 ,DAD TALKS AB\T HIM ALL ! TIME40 

,JOHN SMIL$ & SEEM$ 9ORD9ATELY PLEAS$4 

0,?AT'S GOOD4 ,?AT'S GOOD TO HE>4 ,Y\ HAVE A GOOD LIFE1 ,MI*AEL4 ,Y\ DES]VE ONE40 

,/&+ UP1 ,JOHN W5T TO /& BESIDE ! O!RS1 :I* LEFT ONLY ,PHYLLIS CR\*+ !RE BE=E HIM ) H] DANGL+ RABBIT FEET & FACES1 ) H] SCABBY KNEES PROTRUD+ BLUNTLY FROM B5EA? H] NAVY SKIRT'S HEM AS %E SQUATT$4 

0,GOODBYE1 ,MI*AEL4 ,& IF WE'D 'AVE MET SOME:]E ELSE 9 A DIFF]5T LIFE OR 9 A DIFF]5T TIME1 ,I %\LD 'AVE LOV$ TO BE Y] GIRLFRI5D4 ,Y\'RE A SMA%9'-LOOK+ KID4 ,Y\'VE GOT ! SAME GOOD LOOKS AS ,JOHN 'AS1 & ?AT'S SAY9' SUMMAT4 ,N[1 Y\ GO BACK TO Y] FAMILY1 & TRY NOT TO =GET ALL :AT Y\'VE LE>N$ UP ']E40 

,! 9FANT NODD$ GRAVELY AS ,PHYLLIS G5TLY DETA*$ H] H& FROM HIS4 

0,I'LL TRY4 ,& Y\ MU/ ALL LOOK AFT] ONE ANO!R & TRY NOT TO MAKE SO MANY 5EMIES4 ,I %\LDN'T LIKE IT IF ONE ( !M HURT ANY ( Y\4 ,& ,PHYLLIS1 Y\ MU/ LOOK AFT] Y\R LITTLE BRO!R & NOT ALWAYS BE ALL CROSS ) HIM LIKE ,ALMA IS ) ME40 

,PHYLLIS LOOK$ CONFUS$ = A MOM5T1 !N %E LAU<$4 

0,ME LITTLE BRO!R8 ,Y\ MEAN ,BILL8 ',E'S NOT ME BRO!R1 BLESS Y]4 ,N[1 LET'S GET Y\ 'OME BE=E ?AT DEVIL TURNS UP OR !RE'S SUMMAT ELSE :AT /OPS Y] GOO9'40 

,PHYLLIS PLAC$ H] H&S UPON HIS %\LD]S & LEAN$ =W>D1 KISS+ HIM UPON ! LIPS4 ,%E DREW BACK = A SECOND1 SMIL+ IMPI%LY AT ,MI*AEL 9 ! AFT]MA? ( !IR FIR/ & LA/ KISS1 & !N %E PU%$ HIM OV] BACKW>DS1 D[N ! HOLE1 BE=E HE EV5 HAD ! TIME TO YELP4 

,D[N AT ! TRILLI>D HALL1 ! CUE BALL SMA%$ SO H>D 9TO ! GLOBE ?AT REPRES5T$ ,MI*AEL ?AT IT %ATT]$ 9/ANTLY TO P[D]4 ,MI*AEL'S BALL WAS SLAMM$ ACROSS ! GAP+ DEA?'S-HEAD POCKET1 SP9N+ !RE 9 EMPTY SPACE ABOVE ?AT D>K OBLIT]AT+ PLUNGE1 & HE WAS DEAD1 DEAD = T5 M9UTES1 CRADL$ BY HIS WEEP+ MO!R AS ! VEGETABLE TRUCK RATTL$ ?R\< ! T[N T[>DS ! HOSPITAL1 AS FA/ AS IT C\LD GO1 DEAD = T5 M9UTES1 HANG+ !RE 9 NO?+NESS !N :AM6 ,HIS BALL SMACKS UP AGA9/ ! CORN]-POCKET'S 9N] $GE1 REB\NDS ACROSS ! VOID TO %UTTLE D[N ! BAIZE ) ALL ITS AFT]-IMAGES BEH9D IT1 HEAD+ = ! POCKET ) ! GOLD5 CROSS & HE'S ALIVE AGA9 & ALL ! :ITE-ROB$ M5 >\ND ! MASSIVE TABLE1 EV5 ! D>K-HAIR$ ONE :O'D CAUS$ ALL ! TR\BLE1 ALL ( !M ?R[ UP !IR >MS 9 BL9D+ P9ION FANS & YELL 0,IIIIYYYESSSSS60 & ! ON-LOOK+ PHANTOMS & R\< SLEEP]S ALL GO WILD4 

,MI*AEL WAS FALL+ BACKW>DS ) A SIL5T SPLA% & 9TO ! TIME-JELLY1 TUMBL+ ?R\< ! VISC\S MOM5TS ) SIX LITTLE FIGURES /&+ WAV+ ON A SORT ( CORN] ?AT WAS 9SIDE \T & UP ABOVE HIM4 ,) DISMAY1 HE REALIZ$ ?AT HE'D ALREADY =GOTT5 ALL !IR NAMES1 ! GRUBBY LITTLE CORN]-FAIRIES4 ,WAS ?AT :AT Y\ CALL$ !M8 ,OR W]E !Y CALL$ LIONS1 OR G5]ALS1 OR CABBAGES8 ,HE DIDN'T KN[1 DIDN'T KN[ MU* ( ANY?+4 ,HE WASN'T EV5 C]TA9 :AT HE WAS1 EXCEPT ?AT HE WAS SOME?+ :I* HAD LOTS ( T>TAN >MS & LEGS & :I* LEFT A BRI<T YELL[ TRAIL ?AT HE HOP$ WASN'T WEE BEH9D IT ?R\< ! HEAVY CLOCK-OIL ( ! BREA?+ WORLD4 ,D[N1 D[N HE W5T & 9 ! CORN] OV]HEAD W]E T9Y LITTLE CREATURES1 9SECTS OR TRA9$ MICE1 WAV+ GOODBYE TO HIM4 ,/RET*$ S\NDS WRAPP$ R\ND HIM 9 LONG HUMM+ RIBBONS1 & !N SOME?+ HAPP5$ ?AT WAS LIKE A NOISE OR FLA% OR IMPACT & HE FELL 9TO A BAG ( MEAT & BONES1 A SACK ( SOLID SUB/ANCE ?AT WAS SOMEH[ HIM1 & !RE W]E F+]S 9 HIS M\? & W9D WAS :I/L+ D[N HIS ?ROAT 9 A LONG GU/ ?AT FELT LIKE S&PAP] & HE REMEMB]$ PA91 REMEMB]$ :AT A NA/Y & UPSETT+ ?+ IT WAS1 BUT NO?+ ELSE4 ,:AT WAS HIS NAME8 ,:]E WAS HE & :O WAS ?IS WOMAN HOLD+ HIM & :Y DID IT ALL TA/E ( *]RY C\<-SWEETS8 ,!N ! FLAT1 FAMILI> WORLD ROSE UP AB\T ! LITTLE BOY1 & HE =GOT ! M>VEL\S ?+S4 

,:5 ,MI*AEL WOKE UP PROP]LY1 :I* WAS ! NEXT DAY1 SOME?+ FELT WRONG 9 HIS NECK & HE WAS TOLD ?AT SOMEBODY HAD TAK5 \T HIS TONSILS1 :I*1 NOT HAV+ PREVI\SLY KN[N ?AT HE POSSESS$ SU* ?+S1 HE DIDN'T C>E ?AT MU* AB\T4 ,AT ! WEEK'S 5D HIS DAD & MOM CAME 9 A TAXI-CAB & TOOK HIM BACK HOME TO ,/4 ,&REW'S ,ROAD :]E EV]YBODY MADE A FUSS ( HIM & HE WAS GIV5 JELLY & ICE-CREAM4 ,HE W5T TO B$ ?AT NI<T & ! NEXT MORN+ HE BEGAN TO GR[ 9TO A H&SOME =TY-N9E-YE>-OLD ) WIFE & *ILDR5 ( HIS [N :O GOT UP EV]Y DAY & BEAT /EEL DRUMS FLAT = A LIV+4 ,ONE DAY HE WAS FLATT5+ A DRUM ?AT1 CURI\SLY1 HADN'T GOT A LABEL4 ,BL9D$ BY A RU% ( *EMICALS HE KNOCK$ HIMSELF \T COLD & CAME R\ND ) HIS HEAD FULL ( IMPOSSIBLE IDEAS ?AT HE REC\NT$ TO HIS >TI/ SI/]1 ON A SL[ NI<T AT ! ,GOLD5 ,LION4 ,NATURALLY1 HE HADN'T RETA9$ ALL ! DETAILS ( HIS AFT]LIFE ADV5TURES1 BUT ,ALMA ASSUR$ HIM ?AT IF HE'D =GOTT5 ANY?+ IT W\LDN'T BE PROBLEM4 

,%E'D JU/ MAKE IT UP4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #aa -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,BOOK #b1 ,*APT] #aa -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/